Attalea cuatrecasana

Attalea (at-tahl-EH-ah) cuatrecasana (koo-aht-rehk-ahs-AHN-ah)
Colombia. Photo by Michael Calonje, Collectors Seeds.com
Scientific Classification
Genus: Attalea (at-tahl-EH-ah) Species: cuatrecasana (koo-aht-rehk-ahs-AHN-ah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Taparo palm, Corozo.

Habitat and Distribution

W. Colombia, Pacific coast.

Colombia. Photo by Michael Calonje, Collectors Seeds.com

Found alongside streams, in very wet lowland, often flooded rainforest.

Description

Attalea cuatrecasana is an acaulescent palm (the stem is short and subterranean), growing 5 - 10 metres tall, it is topped by a crown of 6 - 10 leaves that can each be up to 10 metres tall. Leaf: Pinnate, 6 to 10 leaves with regularly arranged leaflets in the same plane., Trunk: Trunk is short and mostly subterranean., 10 to 16 inches in diameter (25 to 40 cm). Flower: Male flowers have 20-24 stamens. Flower stalk coming from among the leaves, pendulous when in fruit.. Fruit: brown when ripe. up to 5 inches long, 3.5 inches in diameter (13 x 9 cm). ellipsoid fruits contain 1 to 3 seeds. Editing by edric.

Culture

Prefers lightly filtered sun. Grows best in a moist, but well drained soil. Water Requirements: Regular to abundant Sun Requirements: Light shade. Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b

Comments and Curiosities

Uses: The plant is harvested from the wild for local use of its edible seed; Seed - raw or cooked. A similar taste and texture to the coconut (Cocos nucifera). The fruits are up to 14 cm. long by 10 cm in diameter, they are the third largest seeds in the palm family after the double coconut (Lodoicea maldivica) and the coconut (Cocos nucifera). (Michael Calonje)