Phytelephas macrocarpa

Abstract

This palm with its characteristic trunk that lies flat on the ground before bending upwards so that the fronds can capture light in the understory, has two main uses. The fronds are used for thatch and when the endosperm hardens it turns into vegetable ivory that can be harvested for the trade in vegetable ivory. Confined to western Amazonia in Peru south to Bolivia, the palm also extends into the Upper Purus River in the southwestern portion of the Brazilian Amazon. The palm grows on higher parts of floodplains, such as abandoned river banks often forming extensive groves. Some of the groves likely resulted from artificial mounds created by indigenous peoples for their settlements and to grow crops. People likely planted the pam in the past, as they do in some areas today.