''Phytelephas'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

containing six known

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of dioecious palms (

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Arecaceae), occurring from southern

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...

along the

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

, Bolivia, Colombia, northwestern Brazil, and

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

. They are commonly known as ivory palms, ivory-nut palms or tagua palms; the scientific name ''Phytelephas'' means "plant

ivory Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals i ...

". This and the first two of the common names refer to the very hard white endosperm of their seeds (tagua nuts or jarina seeds), which resembles elephant ivory.Vegetable ivory: saving elephants and the rain forest
/ref> They are medium-sized to tall palms reaching up to 20 m tall, with pinnate leaves. The "nut" is covered with

pericarp Fruit anatomy is the plant anatomy of the internal structure of fruit. Fruits are the mature ovary or ovaries of one or more flowers. They are found in three main anatomical categories: aggregate fruits, multiple fruits, and simple fruits. Aggr ...

, which gets removed by animals. The kernel is covered with a brown, flaky skin and shaped like a small

avocado The avocado (''Persea americana'') is a medium-sized, evergreen tree in the laurel family ( Lauraceae). It is native to the Americas and was first domesticated by Mesoamerican tribes more than 5,000 years ago. Then as now it was prized for ...

, roughly 4–8 cm in diameter.

Uses

Given trade restrictions in

elephant Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae ...

ivory as well as animal welfare concerns, ivory palm endosperm is often used as a substitute for elephant ivory today, and traded under the names vegetable ivory, palm ivory, ''marfim-vegetal'', ''corozo'', ''tagua'', or ''jarina''. When dried out, it can be carved just like elephant ivory; it is often used for

bead A bead is a small, decorative object that is formed in a variety of shapes and sizes of a material such as stone, bone, shell, glass, plastic, wood, or pearl and with a small hole for threading or stringing. Beads range in size from under ...

buttons A button is a fastener that joins two pieces of fabric together by slipping through a loop or by sliding through a buttonhole. In modern clothing and fashion design, buttons are commonly made of plastic but also may be made of metal, wood ...

, figurines and

jewelry Jewellery ( UK) or jewelry ( U.S.) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the clothes. From a w ...

, and can be dyed. More recently, palm ivory has been used in the production of bagpipes. Vegetable ivory stimulates local economies in South America, provides an alternative to cutting down rainforests for farming, and prevents elephants from being killed for the ivory in their tusks. In

, the Ecuadorean ivory palm ('' P. aequatorialis'') is the

whose kernels are widely harvested. The large-fruited ivory palm ('' P. macrocarpa'') is the ivory palm native to Brazil, and most internationally traded palm ivory is derived from this species. The Colombian ivory palm ('' P. schottii'') and '' P. tenuicaulis'', both formerly included in ''P. macrocarpa'', are the usual source of the product in Colombia. The other two species are quite rare and have a restricted range; they are not used for ''tagua'' production on a significant scale. The kernels are picked up from the ground after the ripe fruit has detached from the tree and forest animals have taken care of the

, or harvested when ripe and the pericarp manually removed. As the nut shrinks when it hardens a small hollow cavity can form in the center. It is often not possible to know whether the inside of the nut will have a small cavity in the center until it is cut into. Therefore, when carving, it is common to either incorporate the hole or cavity into carvings or not carve deep enough to reach a potential cavity. In their native range, these palms are also used as a source of food and construction wood. Taguacarving.JPG, ''Tagua'' carvings Lombards Museum 1000.jpg,

ian handicraft Silver locket with tagua nut center by Meryl CA.jpeg, Silver

locket A locket is a pendant that opens to reveal a space used for storing a photograph or other small item such as a lock of hair. Lockets are usually given to loved ones on holidays such as Valentine's Day and occasions such as christenings, wedding ...

with ''tagua'' center

List of species

The following species are recognized:

References

External links

* The New Student's Reference Work/Ivory, Vegetable
''Phytelephas'' Information
{{Taxonbar, from=Q161190 Arecaceae genera Ivory Non-timber forest products Dioecious plants