Slender ivory palm
Phytelephas tenuicaulis

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It usually grows in clusters of up to 8. They are 7 m tall and 8-10 cm across the stem. The leaves are 2-5 m long with 35-75 leaflets on each side. They are opposite and arranged in one plane. The fruiting heads are 15-40 cm wide with about 10 fruit. These are 6-9 cm long. There are about 5 seeds in each fruit.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. They grow in the lowlands on river plains.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, seed, palm heart

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chinche, Guisedue, Sehua, Shipati, Umakawe, Yarina

Synonyms

Phytelephas macrocarpa subsp. tenuicaulis Barfod;