Vegetable ivory, Corozo, Ivory palm

Medicinal Uses

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Apical bud  Fruit  Leaves  Seed | Edible Uses: DrinkThe seed is eaten in various ways. When immature, the liquid endosperm is used as a refreshing drink[768 ]. As it becomes harder and more jelly-like, it is eaten as a food[768 ]. The orange, fleshy fruit is eaten as a delicacy[768 ]. Leaves - cooked[763 ]. The apical bud, often known as a 'palm heart', is eaten as a vegetable[763 ]. Eating this bud leads to the death of the tree because it is unable to make side shoots[K ].

Cultivation

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[768 ].

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

An understorey palm of the rain forest, growing on wet lowlands, often near rivers, on the coastal plain; ascending to 1,500 metres[768 ]. It is often left in pastures when the forest is cleared[768 ].