Arecastrum

Arecastrum is a genus of South American palms that includes Arecastrum romanzoffianum (synonym Syagrus romanzoffianum), commonly known as the queen palm or pindo palm. The stems can be processed to yield a sago-like starch, the tender young buds and heart are eaten as a vegetable, and the seed kernels have been investigated as a potential source of vegetable fats. The sweet orange fruits are also eaten locally and made into jellies. Widely planted as an ornamental, the queen palm shows how palms beyond the oil and date palms contribute useful edible products to regional food systems, even if its commercial food use remains modest compared with its landscape value.