Arecaceae FAMILY

Astrocaryum mexicanum

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Astrocaryum mexicanum is a solitary-stemmed, evergreen palm tree, usually growing 1.5 - 6 metres tall, exceptionally to 8 metres. The unbranched stem can be 25 - 80mm in diameter; it is armed with very numerous, spreading, stout, black spines 3 - 5cm or more long; and topped with a crown of around 11 arching leaves[ 768 Title Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas Publication Author Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R. Publisher Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey. Year 1995 ISBN 0-691-08537-4 Description An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild as a local source of food and materials.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeC. America - Nicaragua to Guatemala and Mexico.

HabitatLocally very abundant in lowland rainforest, in areas not subject to seasonal inundation[ 768 Title Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas Publication Author Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R. Publisher Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey. Year 1995 ISBN 0-691-08537-4 Description An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos. ]. Understorey of dense, wet, mixed lowland forest, usually on well-drained land, chiefly on hillsides, at elevations up to 400 metres[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].