Surtua
Prestoea longipetiolata

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It can have one or several stems. These are 0.5-5 m tall. They are 2-5 cm wide. There are 4-6 leaves. The leaf sheath is open and does not form a crown-shaft. There are 17-33 narrow leaflets along each side. The flowering stalk is erect but arches over when carrying fruit. The fruit are round and 0.8-1 cm across. They are purple black.

It has become a rare palm from harvesting palm hearts.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mountain rainforest on steep slopes. It grows mainly between 1,000-1,500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Central America, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Palm heart, cabbage

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Euterpe brachyspatha Burret; Euterpe longipetiolata Oerst.; Euterpe simiarum (Standl. & Williams) H.E. Moore; Euterpe williamsii Glassman; Malortiea simiarum Standl. & Williams;