Tucuma-i, Espina, Corozo
Astrocaryum acaule

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A solitary palm. The trunk is short and often underground. It can be 1 m tall. There are 5-9 leaves. There are 55-103 leaflets on each side of the leaf. These are arranged irregularly in clusters and they spread in different planes. The flowering stalk is erect. The bract around the flowering stalk is mottled brown and white. It is covered with black spines. There are flowering branches with 2-3 female flowers near the base. The fruit are oval. They are 2.5-3 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide. They are yellow-green to orange when ripe. They are smooth. They are fibrous and fleshy.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest especially along stream banks. It is often on white-sand soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Guiana, Guyana, South America, Venezuela

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, fruit - oil

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Unabai

Synonyms

Astrocaryum giganteum Barb. Rodr.; Astrocaryum huebneri Burret; Astrocaryum luetzelburgii Burret;