Acrocomia aculeata
Grugru palm
Acrocomia aculeaata, commonly known as the Macaw palm, is a versatile tropical plant valued for its medicinal and nutritional properties. Rich in essential oils and bioactive compounds, it is traditionally used to treat skin ailments and inflammation. Beyond medicine, its fruit and oil provide vital sustenance for many communities.
- Scientific name: Acrocomia aculeata
- Family: Arecaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Arecales and the family Arecaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Acrocomia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Arecales | WCVP |
| Family | Arecaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Acrocomia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Acrocomia aculeata, is recognized by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In the Netherlands, it is referred to as the Coyolpalm, while in Brazil, it is commonly called Coco-de-espinho. German speakers identify it as the Macauba-Palme, and in Haiti, it is known as Kòwòs. Additionally, in Traditional Chinese, it is called 格魯椰子.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| nl | Coyolpalm | Wikidata |
| pt | Coco-de-espinho | Wikidata |
| de | Macauba-Palme | Wikidata |
| ht | Kòwòs | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 格魯椰子 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 格鲁椰子 | Wikidata |
| gn | Mokaje | Wikidata |
| cs | akrokomie mexická | Wikidata |
| zh | 格魯椰 | Wikidata |
| es | Totaí | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across various regions of North and Central America. In Mexico, its presence is noted throughout the Gulf coast and the Southeast. It can also be found extending into the Southwest region of the country. Moving southward, the distribution continues through Central America, specifically within Belize. Finally, its geographical reach includes the country of Costa Rica.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | El Salvador | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
| Central America | Nicaragua | WCVP |
| Central America | Panamá | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Acrocomia aculeata, also known as the macauba palm, possesses various components that are utilized for their medicinal and nutritional properties. The root system can be processed to extract bioactive compounds often used in traditional remedies, while the fleshy pulp found within its fruit is highly valued for its rich nutrient content and potential therapeutic applications.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pulp | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Acrocomia aculeata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include oil.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| oil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Acrocomia aculeata has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypoglycemic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hypoglycemic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Acrocomia aculeata has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidiabetic, antioxidant.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |