Astrocaryum scopatum

Botanical Description

Astrocaryum scopatum is a spiny, evergreen, multistemmed palm with very short, unbranched stems that, with age, can reach 2 metres tall and 15cm in diameter. Each stem is topped with a crown of 8 - 12 leaves that can be up to 6.5 metres long including the petiole[ 1874 Title Astrocaryum (Palmae) in Amazonia. A Preliminary Treatment Publication Bull. Inst. Fr. Études Andines 1992, 21 (2): 459-531 Author Kahn F. & Millán B. Publisher Year 1992 ISBN Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.