How was the spiny gru-gru utilized?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
January 3, 2005
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By outward appearances, the spiny gru-gru (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacquin) Loddiges ex Martius) seems merely a tall palm that makes a stately addition to a large landscape. In areas where the palm is cultivated, it is grown for its esthetic value. But the wild gru-grus were and, still are in some places, utilitarian plants. The uses probably date back to long before Europeans settled in Central and South America.
The long pinnate (feather-shaped) fronds of the gru-gru contain fibers. The fronds were beaten to separate the fibers. The twisted fibers made strong ropes and twine.
Plant of the Week 01/03/2005
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The seeds or 'nuts' have high oil and starch content. Roasted or boiled and cracked, they supplied valuable energy to subsistence peoples who lived off the land. The seeds were also broken and pressed to extract the oil for cooking.
The spiny trunk has an inner core high in sugar, starch and oil. During droughts, the palms are cut and split to provide food for cattle. But in the past, the core was beaten (pulped) and the starch drained and dried for making breads and cakes. The oil separated from the pulp was used for cooking or made into soap.
Like all sweet things, someone realized that if the liquid sat around it changed into a 'pretty good' drink. The pulped core fermented into liquor and the spiny trunk could be tapped to formulate a palm wine.
The Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia have posted a photograph of a gru-gru used in a large landscape. To view the photograph, click on the link:
http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Acrocomia/aculeata.html
(Compiled from: "Acrocomia", Hortus Third, Staff of the L.H. Bailey Hortorium, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Macmillan, 1976; "Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. Ex Mart.", Fruits from America, an ethnobotanical inventory, Geo Coppens d'Eeckenbrugge and Dimary Libreros Ferla, CIRAD-FLHOR/IPGRI Project for Neotropical Fruits, 2000 and "Acrocomia aculeata", Flora of Tobago-their origins and uses, Folklore and Culture of Tobago, Tobago and Trinidad.)
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
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What is a toddy? What's in a Name? - January 2, 2004
What is carnauba? Plants that Changed History - March 2, 2004
What was the drunken date palm? Herbal Folklore - December 29, 2003
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'Aketekyiwa I,' vase
NOVICA®/National Geographic®
Inspired by the traditions of Ghana, Henry Kpei presents this gorgeous ceramic vase, its surface ringed by arching undulations. Aketekyiwa is a name given to the special pots used by palm wine tappers to collect the sap from the tree. The evolving color transforms from rich gold into a darker, mysterious base. A hand-crafted vision to display in the modern home. [Tell me more...]
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