Parajubaea cocoides Burret

A palm with a solitary trunk. It grows to 15-20 m tall. The trunk is 20-25 cm across. It has a rounded graceful crown. The leaves are 3-5 m long. The leaves have leaflets along the leaf stalk. They are bright to dark green above and silvery underneath. The fruiting stalk hangs down from among the leaves on long strings. The male and female flowers are separate on the same stalk. The fruit is about 5-6 cm long. The fruit are covered with a very tough flesh. They are yellow green when ripe. The seed is about 2 cm long and ridged and black.

A tropical plant. It grows between 2,000 and 3,000 metres altitude. It requires a sunny sheltered position in a well drained soil. Plants need night temperatures below 13°C. They can grow in Sydney in Australia. It suits subtropical and temperate regions. Temperatures below-6°C can kill trees. Trees can grow in a fairly wide range of pH values.

The seed is eaten raw or cooked. The seed is enjoyed especially by children. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. The sap is used for a drink.

Plants can be grown from seed when it is newly ripe. Seed are slow to germinate. Stored seed should be presoaked for 24 hours in warm water. Plants are deep rooted. It is therefore better to plant them directly where they will grow.