Cohune palm

A palm with leaves several metres long – farmers say it always grows where the soil is richest.

The cohune palm is an imposing palm with a massive trunk, growing to 15–25 m, with a crown of huge pinnate leaves up to 8–10 m long. Heavy bunches of fruit with very hard shells hang beneath the crown, containing oily seeds. It grows in dense stands on fertile soils in lowlands and river valleys. For centuries oil for cooking and lighting has been pressed from the seeds, the leaves are used for thatching, and the young shoot tip is eaten as “heart of palm”.

Significance in the country

The cohune palm is an integral part of the Belizean landscape and traditional architecture – roofs thatched with its leaves can still be seen in Maya and Garifuna villages. Farmers have always regarded dense palm forests, known as “cohune ridges”, as a sign of the best soils.

Where it grows

Common throughout the country on fertile lowlands and in river valleys, especially in Cayo, Orange Walk, Belize and Stann Creek districts.

More: Wikipedia (en)