''Astrocaryum aculeatissimum'' (
syn. ''Astrocaryum ayri'' Mart., ''Toxophoenix aculeatissima'' Schott) is a
palm
Palm most commonly refers to:
* Palm of the hand, the central region of the front of the hand
* Palm plants, of family Arecaceae
** List of Arecaceae genera
**Palm oil
* Several other plants known as "palm"
Palm or Palms may also refer to:
Music ...
native to
Atlantic Coast restingas vegetation
Vegetation is an assemblage of plants and the ground cover they provide. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular Taxon, taxa, life forms, structure, Spatial ecology, spatial extent, or any other specific Botany, botanic ...
, which is an
ecosystem
An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by Organism, organisms in interaction with their Biophysical environment, environment. The Biotic material, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and en ...
of
Atlantic Forest biome
A biome () is a distinct geographical region with specific climate, vegetation, and animal life. It consists of a biological community that has formed in response to its physical environment and regional climate. In 1935, Tansley added the ...
in
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
. This plant has a commercial value because it has useful
fiber
Fiber (spelled fibre in British English; from ) is a natural or artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often inco ...
s which may be used to make production of
broom
A broom (also known as a broomstick) is a cleaning tool, consisting of usually stiff fibers (often made of materials such as plastic, hair, or corn husks) attached to, and roughly parallel to, a cylindrical handle, the broomstick. It is thus a ...
s.
The trunk of the tree is covered by rings of very sharp spines, believed by some biologists to have evolved as protection against the extinct
Megatherium Giant Ground Sloth.
External links
''Astrocaryum aculeatissimum''photos
aculeatissimum
Endemic flora of Brazil
Flora of the Atlantic Forest
Trees of Brazil
Fiber plants
Medicinal plants of South America
Least concern plants
Least concern biota of South America
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