Acrocomia crispa

Botanical Description

Acrocomia crispa is a solitary-stemmed, evergreen palm tree with a very spiny, unbranched main stem around 8 - 18 metres tall and 25 - 35cm in diameter. The stem is topped by a crown of 10 - 15 very spiny 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 for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. String made from it is sold in local markets[ 1889 Title Repertorio fisico-natural de la isla de Cuba. Tome 1 Publication Author Poey F. Publisher Impr. del gobierno y capitanía general por S.M.; Havana, Cuba Year 1865-1868 ISBN Description ]. Considering that the genus Cocos where Kunth placed this palm, has many species of crisp leaves, and that on the other hand this specific name could also be suitable for any other species that may be incorporated into this genus from now on, since Kunth's description is so defective that in reality it should not be assigned to the Corojo, nor have we decided to substitute that of armentalis to any of the Cuban palms that we know today, which, without making a mistake with any other, also expresses the utilitarian property of this precious palm; because it is already known that armentalis, in Latin, indicates what belongs to cattle.