Astrocaryum is a genus of about 36[ Kew Palms Checklist: Astrocaryum] to 40 species of Arecaceae native to Central America and South America and Trinidad.
Description
Astrocaryum is a genus of spiny palms with
compound leaves–rows of leaflets emerge on either side of the axis of the leaf in a feather-like or fern-like pattern. Some species are single-stemmed, while others grow in multi-stemmed (
caespitose) clumps. They are pleonanthic—they flower repeatedly over the course of their lifespan—and
Plant sexuality, meaning that there are separate male and female flowers, but individuals plants bear both types of flowers.
Taxonomy
History
The type species,
Astrocaryum aculeatum, was first described by
German people botanist Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Meyer in 1818 based on a specimen from the
Essequibo River in
Guyana.
Species
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Astrocaryum acaule Mart.
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Astrocaryum aculeatissimum (Schott) Burret
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Astrocaryum aculeatum G.Mey.
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Astrocaryum alatum Loomis
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Astrocaryum campestre Mart.
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Astrocaryum carnosum F.Kahn & B.Millán
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Astrocaryum chambira Burret
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Astrocaryum chonta Mart.
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Astrocaryum ciliatum F.Kahn & B.Millán
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Astrocaryum confertum H.Wendl. ex Burret
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Astrocaryum faranae F.Kahn & E.Ferreira
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Astrocaryum farinosum Barb.Rodr.
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Astrocaryum ferrugineum F.Kahn & B.Millán
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Astrocaryum giganteum Barb.Rodr.
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Astrocaryum gratum F.Kahn & B.Millán
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Astrocaryum gynacanthum Mart.
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Astrocaryum huaimi Mart.
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Astrocaryum huicungo Dammer ex Burret
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Astrocaryum jauari Mart.
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Astrocaryum javarense (Trail) Drude
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Astrocaryum macrocalyx Burret
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Astrocaryum malybo H.Karst.
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Astrocaryum mexicanum Liebm. ex Mart.
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Astrocaryum minus Trail
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Astrocaryum murumuru Mart.
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Astrocaryum paramaca Mart.
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Astrocaryum perangustatum F.Kahn & B.Millán
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Astrocaryum rodriguesii Trail
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Astrocaryum sciophilum (Miq.) Pulle
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Astrocaryum scopatum F.Kahn & B.Millán
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Astrocaryum sociale Barb.Rodr.
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Astrocaryum standleyanum L.H.Bailey
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Astrocaryum triandrum Galeano-Garces, Rodrigo Bernal & F.Kahn
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Astrocaryum ulei Burret
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Astrocaryum urostachys Burret
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Astrocaryum vulgare Mart.
One well known member of the genus is Astrocaryum vulgare, typical in the Pará state of Brazil. Astrocaryum mexicanum, a common palm of the Caribbean coast of Central America, is known as warree cohune in Brazil, as its spines are said to resemble the bristles of the white-lipped peccary or warree.
Uses
The fruit and seeds of several species are used for human food, oil production and fish bait. Leaves are used as a source of fibre and stems as building material. Species are also used medicinally and as a source of palm heart.
