Astrocaryum mexicanum, the chocho palm, cohune palm, or chapay, is a species of cocosoid palm in the family Arecaceae, native to Mexico and Central America.[1][2] It is very long-lived for a palm, reaching 140 years.[3] Local people harvest its young inflorescences, its seeds, and its hearts for food.[2][4] Covered with stout spines, it is hardy to USDA zone 10a, and is occasionally planted as an ornamental in places such as Hawaii and Southern California.[5]
| Astrocaryum mexicanum | |
|---|---|
| At the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens | |
| Even the spathe of the flowers is spiny | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Astrocaryum |
| Species: | A. mexicanum |
| Binomial name | |
| Astrocaryum mexicanum | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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| Taxon identifiers |
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