Coquillo palm

The coquillo palm (Astrocaryum alatum) has a robust, spiny trunk. It can grow up to 15 metres tall and the diametre of its trunk varies between 10 and 15 cm. It has a taproot that keeps it solidly anchored and supports its vertical stature.

It generally grows as a solitary palm and has long fronds that can grow up to 5 metres long.

The palm’s fruits are protected by a very hard sheath called an endocarp. This woody envelope encases the berries (or drupes) that are surrounded by a leathery, fibrous tissue called the mesocarp. The spiny, oval-shaped fruits are orange and sometimes have a brown hue. They grow in clusters that are more or less compact.

Despite their size, palms of the Astrocaryum genus are herbaceous plants. Unlike trees, they don’t form true trunks as they cannot produce wood or undergo secondary growth (thickening of the trunk).

Other species of the same genus of palms

There are other species of the Astrocaryum genus that also have spines on their leaves and trunks, such as the murumuru palm (Astrocaryum murumuru). This palm grows in tropical rainforests in the Amazon. Murumuru oil and butter is extracted from the palm’s seeds and is used to make soap, moisturizers, and hair products.

Another species is the chambira palm (Astrocaryum chambira), a solitary palm that can grow up to 25 metres tall. The chambira palm’s trunk is covered in dense, black spines, especially when the palm is young. It grows in lowland rainforests in the western part of the Amazon and in northern Bolivia, both on dry land and along riverbanks. The palm’s fibres are very long, exceptionally strong, and rot resistant. They are used to make various items such as ropes, nets, baskets, and hammocks.