Astrocaryum aculeatissimum

Astrocaryum aculeatissimum (syn. Astrocaryum ayri Mart., Toxophoenix aculeatissima Schott) is a palm native to Atlantic Coast restingas vegetation, which is an ecosystem of Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil. This plant has a commercial value because it has useful fibers which may be used to make production of brooms.

Astrocaryum aculeatissimum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Astrocaryum
Species:
A. aculeatissimum
Binomial name
Astrocaryum aculeatissimum

The trunk of the tree is covered by rings of very sharp spines, believed by some biologists to have evolved as protection against the extinct Megatherium Giant Ground Sloth.[citation needed]

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