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Useful Tropical Plants

Astrocaryum aculeatum

G.Mey.

Arecaceae


There has been considerable confusion over the correct identities of Astrocaryum aculeatum, Astrocaryum gynacanthum, and Astrocaryum tucuma. See Rodrigo Bernal, '(1837) Proposal to conserve the name Astrocaryum aculeatum (Palmae) with a conserved type'; TAXON 57 (3) August 2008: 29, pp 10-11.
It was proposed that the use of Astrocaryum aculeatum to refer to the tucuma (Astrocaryum tucuma) should be conserved and thus Astrocaryum tucuma would be treated as a synonym of Astrocaryum aculeatum. Astrocaryum gynacanthum would be maintained as a distinct species. However, the proposal was rejected and so Astrocaryum aculeatum is now the correct name for the species formerly known as Astrocaryum gynacanthum (with Astrocaryum gynacanthum as a synonym)), whilst Astrocaryum tucuma is now the correct name for the tucuma.

+ Synonyms

Astrocaryum dasychaetum (Burret) Burret

Astrocaryum gymnopus Burret

Astrocaryum gynacanthum Mart.

Astrocaryum minus terrae-firmae Drude

Astrocaryum munbaca Mart.

Astrocaryum rodriguesii Trail

Common Name:

Astrocaryum aculeatum
Growing plant
Photograph by: Rogelio Quinatoa
Creative Commons License

General Information

Astrocaryum aculeatum is spiny, multi-stemmed evergreen palm producing several stems usually 2 - 6 metres tall, occasionally to 12 metres. These unbranched stems can be 3 - 10cm in diameter; they are covered with flattened spines up to 15cm long; and are topped with a rosette of 6 - 13 horizontal leaves that can be up to 3 metres long including the petiole[
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 use 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

S. America - Bolivia, northern Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitat

An understorey plant in lowland rainforest, growing in areas not subject to seasonal inundation, at elevations up to 650 metres, occasionally to 850 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 *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height5.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
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.
]. Floury[
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.
]. Occasionally eaten[
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.
]. More or less sweet[
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 bright orange, obovoid fruit is up to 30mm long and 15mm 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.
].

The palm heart (the inner core and growing bud of the plant) is harvested[
763
Title
Heart of Palm Use: A Family Survey
Publication
 
Author
Scott Zona, Ph.D.
Website
http://www.virtualherbarium.org/palmresearch/Hearts_of_Palm_table.html
Publisher
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Virtual Herbarium.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line article listing the botanical names and range of palm trees that have an edible apical bud.
]. 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 stem it was harvested from, though in multi-stemmed plants such as this the rest of the plant will continue to grow and often produce new stems.

The apical bud is sometimes burnt and the ashes used as a salt substitute[
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.
].

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 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. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Astrocaryum+aculeatum>

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