Tropical Plant "Tucuman"
Astocaryum aculeatum

Characteristics – The tucuman palm is a fruit tree, not under cultivation. Native to the Amazon dry land forest in the states of Para, Amazonas, Acre, Mato Grosso, and Rodonia, where its frequency is generally high. It is a solitary palm, 8-20 m tall. The nodes are covered in black thorns, 10-15 cm long. Leaves are pinnate, 5-15 concurrently, with 73-130 pinnae on each side irregularly arranged on different planes. Interfoliar inflorescences are branched and erect with a peduncular bract about 2 m long. Fruits have a hard exocarp and a fiberless, meaty mesocarp, slightly sweet and very rich in Vitamin A.

Uses – The fruits are consumed ‘au naturel’, even in sandwiches (sliced pulp), and are one of the most popular in the Amazon region.

Propagation – Propagated by seeds.