Common Name:

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[, ]. The stem is covered by a crown of 5 - 12 erect leaves that can each be up to 4 metres long[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, source of fibre, wood etc.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

C. America - Panama, Costa Rica.

Habitat

An understorey tree growing in dense, primary forest[]. Lowland rain forest, on soils not subject to inundation, at elevations up to 250 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. 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[].

The palm heart (the inner core and growing bud of the plant) is harvested from various species in this genus[]. 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[].

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[]. 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[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The spines are flammable and possibly useful as kindling[].

The hard endocarp of various Amazonian species is commonly used to make beads and ornaments for necklaces[]

The black wood is hard. It is used for canes, ornamental boxes, archery bows etc[].

Propagation

Seed -

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