Coyoli Palm. Gru-Gru Palm (Acrocomia aculeata)

Family: Arecaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Acrocomia aculeata is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Nuts/Seeds, Leaves, Roots/Tubers, Bark/Inner Bark

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Rich in oil, it can be quite bitter. — A starch can be obtained from the pith of the trunk and from the roots.; The pith of the trunk can be fermented to produce an alcoholic drink.; Rich in oil, it can be quite bitter.; The yellowish pulp is fibrous, mucilaginous and slightly sweet.

Habitat & North American Range

Barren lands and semi-deciduous, open forest. Semideciduous forests, occurring in both dense primary and more open secondary formations, favouring fertile soils in valleys and on lower hill slopes. (Zone 10)