Attalea cuatrecasana

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Figure 1. A. cuatrecasana near the San Juan River Mouth, Choco-Valle border, Columbia.

Synonymy:

Orbignya cuatrecasana

Common Names:

Taparo palm or Corozo in it's southern range.

Distribution:

The taparo palm is endemic to the Choco region of Colombia and entering northern Ecuador.

Habitat:

Rainforest

Description:

Attalea cuatrecasana has a short subterranean stem and large upright leaves to 6 meters tall. It has fruits up to 14cm. long by 10cm in diameter, and the largest palm seeds in the palm family after the double coconut (Lodoicea maldivica) and the coconut (Cocos nucifera).

General:

The endosperm is eaten by the locals, as it is similar in taste and texture to the coconut.

Culture:

In its habitat it is most abundant in swampy areas or small stream beds, where large trees cannot stand allowing about 50% sunlight. So adapts well to partial canopy but does best in full sun for fruit production. As with other Attaleas it still thrives in seasonally dry, well drained sites.

Contributed by:

Michael Calonje, (Text and Figure 1)

External Links:

Kew, PalmWeb, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr, PalmTalk