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Useful Tropical Plants

Astrocaryum confertum

H.Wendl. & Burret

Arecaceae

+ Synonyms

Astrocaryum polystachyum H.Wendl. ex Hemsl.

Common Name:

Astrocaryum confertum
Fruiting plant
Photograph by: Christel Ramos
Creative Commons License
Astrocaryum confertum Astrocaryum confertum Astrocaryum confertum

General Information

Astrocaryum confertum is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm tree thatt can grow 10 - 17 metres tall. The unbranched, cylindrical, straight bole can be 25cm in diameter and is thickly covered by conspicuous, needle-sharp spines that can be up to 17cm long. This dense cloak of piercing armour makes the bole appear woolly and black from a distance, though the outer wood is actually smooth and tan or flesh coloured[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
,
768
Title
Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
Publication
 
Author
Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
Publisher
Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-691-08537-4
Description
An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos.
]. The stem is covered by a crown of 5 - 12 erect leaves that can each be up to 4 metres long[
768
Title
Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
Publication
 
Author
Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
Publisher
Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-691-08537-4
Description
An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, source of fibre, wood etc.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

768
Title
Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
Publication
 
Author
Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
Publisher
Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-691-08537-4
Description
An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos.

Range

C. America - Panama, Costa Rica.

Habitat

An understorey tree growing in dense, primary forest[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
]. Lowland rain forest, on soils not subject to inundation, at elevations up to 250 metres[
768
Title
Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
Publication
 
Author
Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
Publisher
Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-691-08537-4
Description
An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height12.00 m
PollinatorsBees
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
]. The fruits are about 3cm in diameter, held in long racemes on the plant. Turning orange when fully ripe, the thin, leathery skin of the fruit covers a fibrous layer of softer, orange flesh, and a single, central seed[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
].

The palm heart (the inner core and growing bud of the plant) is harvested from various species in this genus[
1869
Title
The genus Astrocaryum (Arecaceae)
Publication
Rev. peru. biol. 15(supl. 1): 031- 048 (Noviembre 2008)
Author
Kahn F.
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
1727-9933
Description
 
]. It provides a crispy food, rich in nutrients, that can be eaten raw or cooked. Harvesting the heart will lead to the death of the plant, however, since it is unable to produce new shoots[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

We have no specific information for this species, but the fruits and seeds of various species in this genus are reported to be used for oil production in the Amazon region[
1869
Title
The genus Astrocaryum (Arecaceae)
Publication
Rev. peru. biol. 15(supl. 1): 031- 048 (Noviembre 2008)
Author
Kahn F.
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
1727-9933
Description
 
]. Existing analyses of fruit fat content show a relatively homogeneous composition among the different species, with around. 20% of fat content in the mesocarp, mostly composed of oleic and palm itic acids, and 20 - 35% of fat content in the endosperm, with a predominance of lauric acid[
1869
Title
The genus Astrocaryum (Arecaceae)
Publication
Rev. peru. biol. 15(supl. 1): 031- 048 (Noviembre 2008)
Author
Kahn F.
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
1727-9933
Description
 
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The spines are flammable and possibly useful as kindling[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
].

The hard endocarp of various Amazonian species is commonly used to make beads and ornaments for necklaces[
1869
Title
The genus Astrocaryum (Arecaceae)
Publication
Rev. peru. biol. 15(supl. 1): 031- 048 (Noviembre 2008)
Author
Kahn F.
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
1727-9933
Description
 
]

The black wood is hard. It is used for canes, ornamental boxes, archery bows etc[
510
Title
Trees of Costa Rica's Pacific Slope
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cds.ed.cr/teachers/harmon/page1.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Information on over 80 species of tree from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Astrocaryum+confertum>

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