Macauba palm, Grugru Palm


Scientific Name: Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. Ex Mart.
Acrocomia aculeata
Size: Up to 40 feet tall (12 m) depending on the type. Up to 15 feet diameter (4.5 m)
Min. Temperature: 25°F (-4°C)
Water Requirements: Regular water
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Origin: Mexico to Argentina
Leaf: Pinnate, plumose, glaucous. The leaves and the petioles possess long needle-like black spines, Up to 10 feet long (3 m).
Trunk: Grey brown, ringed, often armed with a large quantity of black spines, 9-10 inches in diameter (22-27 cm).
Flower: Unisexual yellow flowers, both sexes on the same stalk. Male flowers have 6 stamens.. Flower stalk coming from among the leaves, up to 7 feet long (2.1 m), spiny, woody spath covered with spines.
Fruit: Light green. up to 2 inches. Spiny fruits.
Seed:

At one point there was almost 30 species of Acrocomia described. Now many are considered synonymous with A. aculeata.
The seed is a source of palm oil

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