Astrocaryum mexicanum
Liebm. ex Mart.
Arecaceae
It has been proposed that this species should be transferred to the reinstated genus Hexopetion, as Hexopetion mexicanum (Liebm. ex Mart.) Burret. To date (2020) this proposal has not been widely accepted, See J.C. Pintaud et al in 'The genus Hexopetion Burret (Arecaceae)' Rev. peru. biol. 15(supl. 1): 049- 054 (Noviembre 2008).
Astrocaryum chichon Linden
Astrocaryum cohune (S.Watson) Standl.
Astrocaryum rostratum Hook.f.
Astrocaryum warszewiczii H.Karst.
Bactris cohune S.Watson
Hexopetion mexicanum (Liebm. ex Mart.) Burret
Common Name:
Crown of the plant
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Crown of the plant
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Spiny stem
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Inflorescence - the male flowers (bottom) have senesced and the female flowers (below) are developing into fruits
Photograph by: B.J. Wood'
Image credit to Palmweb
Emerging inflorescence
Photograph by: Fritz Geller-Grimm
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Spiny stem
Photograph by: Daderot
Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication
General Information
Astrocaryum mexicanum is a solitary-stemmed, evergreen palm tree, usually growing 1.5 - 6 metres tall, exceptionally to 8 metres. The unbranched stem can be 25 - 80mm in diameter; it is armed with very numerous, spreading, stout, black spines 3 - 5cm or more long; and topped with a crown of around 11 arching 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 as a local source of food and materials.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
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 - Nicaragua to Guatemala and Mexico.
Habitat
Locally very abundant in lowland rainforest, in areas 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.
]. Understorey of dense, wet, mixed lowland forest, usually on well-drained land, chiefly on hillsides, at elevations up to 400 metres[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 5.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Found from the subtropics to the tropics[
314- Title
- Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
].
Succeeds in full sun to light shade[
314- Title
- Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
].
Edible Uses
Young inflorescences[
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.
].
Seed[
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 flavour is similar to coconuts[
331- Title
- Flora of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1946 - 1976
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].
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 leaves are used for thatching[
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 stems are used for making tool handles[
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.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
