Vegetable ivory, Corozo
Phytelephas aequatorialis

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A solitary palm. It grows to 16 m high. The trunk is 30 cm across. The leaf crown is large and round. The dead leaves hang beneath the living leaves. The leaves are 5-6 m long. They are on short stout leaf stalks. There are a large number of leaflets. They grow in small groups and often at slightly different angles. The leaflets at the centre are 60-100 cm long. The leaflets are the base and tip are shorter. They are deep green on both surfaces and hang down slightly.

There are about 6 Phytelephas species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest. In the Andes it grows up to 1660 m altitude. It suits humid regions. In Townsville Queens BG and palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador (country/location of origin), Panama, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

The liquid inside the young fruit is drunk. The young seeds are edible.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, palm heart, seeds, nut

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cabeza de negor, Cade, Cadillo, Coroso, Din-chi, Garinha, Jarina, Mazorca, Tade, Tagua, Tiri, Trapa, Wakra ashanka

Synonyms

Palandra aequatorialis (Spruce) O.F. Cook;