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Useful Tropical Plants

Acrocomia crispa

(Kunth) C.F.Baker ex Becc.

Arecaceae

+ Synonyms

Acrocomia armentalis (Morales) L.H.Bailey & E.Z.Bailey

Astrocaryum crispum (Kunth) M.Gómez

Cocos crispa Kunth

Gastrococos armentalis Morales

Gastrococos crispa (Kunth) H.E.Moore

Common Name: Corojo

No Image.

General Information

Acrocomia crispa is a solitary-stemmed, evergreen palm tree with a very spiny, unbranched main stem around 8 - 18 metres tall and 25 - 35cm in diameter. The stem is topped by a crown of 10 - 15 very spiny leaves[
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 plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. String made from it is sold in local markets[
1889
Title
Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba. Tome 1
Publication
 
Author
Poey F.
Publisher
Impr. del gobierno y capitanía general por S.M.; Havana, Cuba
Year
1865-1868
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
Considering that the genus Cocos where Kunth placed this palm, has many species of crisp leaves, and that on the other hand this specific name could also be suitable for any other species that may be incorporated into this genus from now on, since Kunth's description is so defective that in reality it should not be assigned to the Corojo, nor have we decided to substitute that of armentalis to any of the Cuban palms that we know today, which, without making a mistake with any other, also expresses the utilitarian property of this precious palm; because it is already known that armentalis, in Latin, indicates what belongs to cattle.

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

Caribbean - Cuba

Habitat

Found through most of Cuba, but preferring flat and arid lands on calcareous soils, sometimes occupying large areas and also persisting in fields and other disturbed areas; at low elevations[
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.
,
1889
Title
Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba. Tome 1
Publication
 
Author
Poey F.
Publisher
Impr. del gobierno y capitanía general por S.M.; Havana, Cuba
Year
1865-1868
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Properties

HabitEvergreen Tree
Height15.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



The plant will often commence flowering and fruiting when around 6 - 8 years old, though it can take up to 18 years[
1889
Title
Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba. Tome 1
Publication
 
Author
Poey F.
Publisher
Impr. del gobierno y capitanía general por S.M.; Havana, Cuba
Year
1865-1868
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
Plants will often flower and fruit twice a year in their native environment[
1889
Title
Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba. Tome 1
Publication
 
Author
Poey F.
Publisher
Impr. del gobierno y capitanía general por S.M.; Havana, Cuba
Year
1865-1868
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Edible Uses

Each fructescence may contain about 2,000 - 3,000 globose orange fruits each around 25 - 27mm in diameter[
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.
,
1889
Title
Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba. Tome 1
Publication
 
Author
Poey F.
Publisher
Impr. del gobierno y capitanía general por S.M.; Havana, Cuba
Year
1865-1868
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. The fruits contain a delicate, edible albumin that can barely supply a drop of oil[
1889
Title
Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba. Tome 1
Publication
 
Author
Poey F.
Publisher
Impr. del gobierno y capitanía general por S.M.; Havana, Cuba
Year
1865-1868
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

The flavour of the fresh seed is somewhat similar to that of the Coconut; but it does not possess purgative properties[
1889
Title
Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba. Tome 1
Publication
 
Author
Poey F.
Publisher
Impr. del gobierno y capitanía general por S.M.; Havana, Cuba
Year
1865-1868
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Medicinal

Wine and brandy produced from the fruit is said to have medicinal properties, including treating some forms of asthma[
1889
Title
Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba. Tome 1
Publication
 
Author
Poey F.
Publisher
Impr. del gobierno y capitanía general por S.M.; Havana, Cuba
Year
1865-1868
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Other Uses

The rachis of the leaves contains strong and elastic fibres that are used to make ropes and string. This rope is highly resistant and durable[1889.

The sharp spines that are found all over the plant are traditionally used as toothpicks and hair pins[
1889
Title
Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba. Tome 1
Publication
 
Author
Poey F.
Publisher
Impr. del gobierno y capitanía general por S.M.; Havana, Cuba
Year
1865-1868
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A low germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed taking more than a year to sprout[
419
Title
Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition.
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil.
Year
2002
ISBN
85-86714-17-8
Description
Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
]. Some people scarify the seed and then soak it in water for as long as several weeks in order to get it to germinate[
297
Title
Palms of the World
Publication
 
Author
Blombery. A. & Rodd. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson
Year
1992
ISBN
0-207-14848-1
Description
An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-14. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Acrocomia+crispa>

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