Astrocaryum javarense
(Trail) Drude
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Description
A palm.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The liquid endosperm of the unripe fruit is drunk. The brown, turbinate to obovoid fruit is 35 - 67mm long and 22 - 30mm wide with a dry mesocarp surrounding a single, large seed. We have no specific information for this species, but the fruits and seeds of various species are reported to be used for oil production in the Amazon region. Existing analyses of fruit fat content show a relatively homogeneous composition among species, with around 20% of fat content in the mesocarp, mostly composed of oleic and palmitic acids, and 20-35% of fat content in the endosperm, with a predominance of lauric acid.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Peru, South America,
Other Uses
The hard endocarp of various Amazonian species is commonly used to make beads and ornaments for necklaces
Synonyms
References (1)
- Marcia, M. J., et al, 2011, Palm Uses in Northwestern South America: A Quantitative Review. Bot. Rev. (2011) 77:462-570
