Astrocaryum is a genus of spiny tropical palms that includes Astrocaryum vulgare, a source — alongside other palms — of tucuma oils and edible fruits in the Amazon region. The orange-yellow fruits are eaten fresh or processed into pulps and oils, while the hard seeds yield an oil used in cooking and cosmetics. Like other Amazonian palms, Astrocaryum supports local food economies and biodiversity-friendly harvesting, while drawing interest from natural-product developers seeking novel oils with distinctive fatty acid profiles. Harvesting the spiny fruits is labour-intensive, which keeps production artisanal, but the genus exemplifies how underused tropical palms can contribute nutrition and income to forest communities.