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Useful Tropical Plants

Astrocaryum sciophilum

(Miq.) Pulle

Arecaceae

+ Synonyms

Astrocaryum plicatum Drude

Bactris sciophila Miq.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Astrocaryum sciophilum is an unbranched, single-stemmed, evergreen palm tree. The stems of young plants are usually subterranean, but in older plants it grows more above ground and can become 2 - 4 metres long, with some older specimens growing up to 12 metres long and 12 - 17cm in diameter. The stems are topped by a crown of 7 - 12 stiffly erect leaves that can each be up to 6.5 metres long including the petiolet[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
,
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.
,
1874
Title
Astrocaryum (Palmae) in Amazonia. A Preliminary Treatment
Publication
Bull. Inst. Fr. Études Andines 1992, 21 (2): 459-531
Author
Kahn F. & Millán B.
Publisher
 
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use, and possibly also as a food.

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.
,
1874
Title
Astrocaryum (Palmae) in Amazonia. A Preliminary Treatment
Publication
Bull. Inst. Fr. Études Andines 1992, 21 (2): 459-531
Author
Kahn F. & Millán B.
Publisher
 
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
 

Range

Northern S. America - Brazil, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Undergrowth of rainforests, often forming pure stands, at elevations up to 450 metres, but avoiding the coastal regions[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. Usually found in areas that are not subject to seasonal inundation[
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 *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height5.00 m
Growth RateSlow
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The liquid endosperm (developing seed) of the unripe fruits is drunk[
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
 
,
1874
Title
Astrocaryum (Palmae) in Amazonia. A Preliminary Treatment
Publication
Bull. Inst. Fr. Études Andines 1992, 21 (2): 459-531
Author
Kahn F. & Millán B.
Publisher
 
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. The obovoid fruit is up to 70mm long and 30 - 40mm wide, with a dry and fibrous mesocarp surrounding a single, large seed[
1874
Title
Astrocaryum (Palmae) in Amazonia. A Preliminary Treatment
Publication
Bull. Inst. Fr. Études Andines 1992, 21 (2): 459-531
Author
Kahn F. & Millán B.
Publisher
 
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

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

The seed contains an oil that is used to treat various wounds and fractures[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

A paste prepared from the fruit is used to treat sprains and fractures[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. (This entry may refer to Astrocaryum murumuru rather than this species[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].)

Other Uses

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
 
]

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Astrocaryum+sciophilum>

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