Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Pacaya palm

Family: Arecaceae (Palm)

Distribution: Central and South America

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Comments: The inflorescence has a somewhat bitter taste, although less so in cultivated varieties. It is eaten in salads (especially ‘fiambre’, a salad traditionally eaten in Guatemala on the Day of the Dead) or covered in egg batter and fried. The latter dish is called ‘rellenos de pacaya’, and is often served with tomato sauce, like ‘chiles rellenos’.