Palm Trees - Astrocaryum mexicanum

Astrocaryum mexicanum

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Astrocaryum mexicanum at The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, England - July 2007



General Information
Family:
Arecaceae
Common Names:
Choco Palm
Synonyms:
Astrocaryum rostratum
Bactris cohune
Hexopetion mexicanum
Distribution:
Central America
Mexico
Habitat:
Rainforest
Conservation Status:
Not Threatened
Habitat Threats:

Native Uses:

Commercial Uses:

Physical Characteristics
Height:
Up to 2.7m (9ft)
Spread:
Growth Habit:
Solitary
Growth Rate:
Medium
Trunk Type:
No Crownshaft
Black Spines
Trunk Diameter:
Leaf Type:
Pinnate
Leaf Size:
Leaf Colour:
Dark Green
Silver Underside
Petiole:
Armed
Self Cleaning:
No
Inflorescence Colour:
Cream To Light Brown
Reproduction:
Fruit Description:
Fruit Colour:

Cultural Requirements
Light:
Partial Shade
Soil:
Moist
Well Draining
Mildly Acidic
Watering:
Frequent
Maintain Moisture
Min. Temp:
-1°C (30°F)
Tolerances:
Full Sun (When Larger)
High Humidity
Pot Culture
Propagation:
Seed
Germination:
1-3 Months
30°C (86°F)
Planting:
Houseplant (When Younger)
Low Traffic Areas
Uses:
Potted
Specimen
Availability:
Specialist Nurseries
Seed Distributors

References: IUCN 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 14 December 2004.
Kew World Checklist Of Selected Plant Families. <www.kew.org/wcsp/home.do>
Maas, P. J. M. & H. Maas-van de Kamer. Costaceae. Pp. 413-423 in, B. E. Hammel, M. H. Grayum, C. Herrera, & N. Zamora (eds.), Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica. vol. II. Gimnospermas y monocotiledóneas (Agavaceae- Musaceae). Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 92: 1-694.
Noblick, L.R. Ph.D., 1998. Hardiness Observations In Palm Species. <www.bg-map.com/PLMTBLA.HTML>
Riffle,R.L. & Craft,P. 2003. An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms.