Tucum palm, Star nut palm
Astrocaryum tucuma

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. An erect plant 16 m tall. The trunk is spiny and the bark is greyish brown. The leaves are divided and about 3 m long. The fruit are fibrous and fleshy. They are 5-6 cm across. The outside is greenish yellow and the flesh is yellow.

There are about 40-50 Astrocaryum species. The fruit are high in Vitamin A.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits the hot tropical lowlands. It can grow in sandy soils in coastal areas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

The fruit yield an edible oil. The fruit pulp is eaten. It is also made into wine. The seed yield and edible oil.

Edible parts

Fruit, cabbage, seeds, palm heart, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

A fruit weighs 70 g.

Its other names

Local names

Cumare, Kuru, Nukwa, Tucum

Synonyms

Astrocaryum aureum Griseb. & H. Wendl.; Astrocaryum caudescens Barb.Rodr.; Astrocaryum jucuma Linden; Astrocaryum macrocarpum Huber; Astrocaryum manaoense Barb.Rodr.; Astrocaryum princeps Barb.Rodr.;