Astrocaryum mexicanum

Astrocaryum mexicanum
	At the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
	Even the spathe of the flowers is spiny
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Arecales
Family:	Arecaceae
Genus:	Astrocaryum
Species:	A. mexicanum
Binomial name
	Astrocaryum mexicanum; Liebm. ex Mart.
Synonyms
	List Astrocaryum chichonLinden; Astrocaryum cohune(S.Watson) Standl.; Astrocaryum rostratumHook.f.; Astrocaryum warszewicziiH.Karst.; Bactris cohuneS.Watson; Hexopetion mexicanum(Liebm. ex Mart.) Burret; ;

Last updated December 01, 2025

Astrocaryum mexicanum, the chocho palm, cohune palm, or chapay, is a species of cocosoid palm in the family Arecaceae, native to Mexico and parts of Central America.^[1]^[2]^[3] It is very long-lived for a palm, reaching 140 years.^[4] Local people harvest its young inflorescences, its seeds, and its hearts for food.^[3]^[5] Covered with stout spines, it is hardy to USDA zone 10a, and is occasionally planted as an ornamental in places such as Hawaii and Southern California.^[6]

References

1 2 Machuca Machuca, K.; Martínez Salas, E. & Samain, M.-S. (2022). "Astrocaryum mexicanum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022 e.T58405431A60806009. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T58405431A60806009.en . Retrieved 30 November 2025.
1 2 "Astrocaryum mexicanum Liebm. ex Mart". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 5 March 2022.
1 2 Edible Leaves, Tasty Roots, & Forgotten Vegetables of Tropical Mesoamerica (PDF). Asociacion FLAAR Mesoamerica. 2012. p. 14.
↑ Piñero, D.; Sarukhán, J. (1982). "Reproductive behaviour and its individual variability in a tropical palm, Astrocaryum mexicanum". Journal of Ecology. 70 (2): 461–472. Bibcode:1982JEcol..70..461P. doi:10.2307/2259915. JSTOR 2259915.
↑ Fern, Ken (30 July 2021). "Useful Tropical Plants Astrocaryum mexicanum". tropical.theferns.info. Tropical Plants Database. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
↑ "Astrocaryum Species, Chocho Palm Astrocaryum mexicanum". Dave's Garden. MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2022.

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[IUCN-1] 1 2 Machuca Machuca, K.; Martínez Salas, E. & Samain, M.-S. (2022). "Astrocaryum mexicanum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022 e.T58405431A60806009. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T58405431A60806009.en . Retrieved 30 November 2025.

[664332-1-2] 1 2 "Astrocaryum mexicanum Liebm. ex Mart". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 5 March 2022.

[FLAAR-2012-3] 1 2 Edible Leaves, Tasty Roots, & Forgotten Vegetables of Tropical Mesoamerica (PDF). Asociacion FLAAR Mesoamerica. 2012. p. 14.

[1_of_1570_Google_Scholar_results-4] Piñero, D.; Sarukhán, J. (1982). "Reproductive behaviour and its individual variability in a tropical palm, Astrocaryum mexicanum". Journal of Ecology. 70 (2): 461–472. Bibcode:1982JEcol..70..461P. doi:10.2307/2259915. JSTOR 2259915.

[5] Fern, Ken (30 July 2021). "Useful Tropical Plants Astrocaryum mexicanum". tropical.theferns.info. Tropical Plants Database. Retrieved 5 March 2022.

[6] "Astrocaryum Species, Chocho Palm Astrocaryum mexicanum". Dave's Garden. MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2022.

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