Zunkha palm, Mountain coconut
Parajubaea torallyi

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It grows about 14 m high. The crown is graceful with arching fronds. The fronds are 4.5-5 m long. The fruit is greyish-green and broadly oval. It is smooth and about 5 cm long. It has a sweet yellow kernel. The kernel is edible. This kernel has 3 prominent ridges.

There are 2 Parajubaea species. It is an endangered species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in dry temperate forest from 1800 to 2700 m altitude. The climate is cool with some frosts. It grows naturally in Bolivia at high altitudes in arid areas and sandstone valleys. In Hobart Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andes, Australia, Bolivia (country/location of origin), Brazil, South America, Tasmania

How it is used for food

The kernel is eaten. The nuts are chewed for the sweet oil and the remainder spat out. They can also be pressed for edible oil. The palm heart can be eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, kernel, seeds, nuts, palm heart

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed are slow to germinate. Planting them shallowly then covering with sphagnum moss probably helps. To get seeds to germinate people have tried filing, cracking etc.

Its other names

Local names

Bolivian coconut, Janchicoco, Palmera zunca

Synonyms

Allagoptera torallyi (Mart.) Kuntze; Diplothemium torallyi Mart.; Jubaea torallyi (Mart.) H. Wendl.; Polyandrococos torallyi (Mart.) Barb. Rodr.;