Acrocomia aculeata
(Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.
Gru-Gru Palm, Macaw palm
(c) mauroguanandi, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) Aurelio Molina Hernández., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Aurelio Molina Hernández.
(c) Mateo Hernandez Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Mateo Hernandez Schmidt
What to Eat
Edible parts: Kernels, Sap, Fruit, Nuts, Seeds, Cabbage, Young leaves, Palm heart, Oil
Starch can be obtained from the pith of the trunk and from the roots. The trunk pith can also be fermented to make an alcoholic drink. The fruit is cooked and is rich in oil, though it can be quite bitter; the yellowish pulp is fibrous, mucilaginous, and slightly sweet, and the sweet pulpy portion can be eaten raw. The fruit is consumed in times of scarcity. The seed is roasted, and a high-quality oil extracted from the seed kernel can be refined for cooking. Young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The apical bud is eaten as a palm heart, though removing it condemns the tree to a slow death since the palm cannot produce side branches.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It needs well drained soil and good sun. It grows in savannah and open woodland, usually at low altitude. In Bolivia it grows to 900 m altitude. In Argentina it grows between 100-200 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Africa, Amazon, Andes, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, East Africa, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies,
How to Identify
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
Nutrition Score: 46/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fruit | 34.3 | — | 286 | 2.76 | — | — | 0.8 | 2.2 |
| Palm heart | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sap | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seed. Seed are difficult to germinate and this is improved by soaking in warm water or cracking the seed coat. Fresh seed should be planted. Seeds may take 1 year to sprout.
Propagation: Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. Germination rates are generally low and the seed may take more than a year to sprout. Some growers scarify the seed and soak it in water for several weeks to encourage germination.
Medicinal Uses
The roots are used medicinally.
Other Uses
When growing wild, the plant indicates good, fertile soils. Strips torn from the leaflets yield a useful twine, and the leaves also provide a strong, good-quality fibre used for ropes and cordage. Oil from the seed kernel can be used to make soap, as can oil extracted from the fruit pulp. The hard endocarp surrounding the seed is carved and pierced for use as rosary beads, jewellery, and buttons. The stem has a central pithy section surrounded by moderately heavy, hard, and very durable outer wood used locally as beams and laths in rural construction.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Acrocomia aculeata is a species of palm native to the Neotropics.
Production
Seedlings grow quickly and spines soon appear. The kernel contains 58% fat.
Other Information
It is cultivated for its fruit. The fruit are especially eaten by children.
Notes
There are 2 Acrocomia species. This is a very variable species and may be one or 26 species. It has antihypovitaminosis A properties.
Names & Synonyms
Acrocome, Amankayo, Bacaiuva, Bocaiuva, Coco, Coco-baboso, Coco-depcatarro, Corocho de Jamaica, Corojo, Corozo, Coyol baboso, Coyoli palm, Coyolipalme, Gouglou, Glouglou, Grou-grou, Huana, Macacauba, Macajuba, Macauba palm, Macauva, Maguedji, Manihua jihui, Map, Mbocaya, Mucaia, Mucaja, Mucajuba, Mucuja palm, Namogoligi, Palma de coyol, Palmeira-macauba, Panima, Paraguay palm, Shodo, Suppa palm, Totai, Tucuma, Tuk', Uba, Xodo, Ya cul
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