Taparo, Almendron
Attalea amygdalina

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. The trunk is underground. The leaves are erect and 7 m long. The tips arch over. The leaflets are regularly spaced along the leaf stalk. The leaflets can be 1 m long. They are deep green. The leaflets are limp and grow in one flat plane. The fruit are oval and 6-9 cm long by 5 cm wide. The seeds are the shape of almonds and are edible.

There are between (22) 30-71 Attalea species. Some authorities divide them among Attalea, Orbignya, Scheela and Maximiliana.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the hilly rainforest in Colombia. It grows between 1000-1600 m altitude in Colombia. In Townsville palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Colombia, South America

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten. They have a high oil content. The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Seeds, kernel, fruit, oil, nuts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Taparo

Synonyms

Attalea uberrima Dugand; Attalea victoriana Dugand;