Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Phytelephas macrocarpa

Phytelephas macrocarpa

9.9
A palm tree from Brazil and Peru that makes hard nuts used like ivory
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Phytelephas macrocarpa
  • The nuts of the Phytelephas macrocarpa are used to make buttons and carvings.

Examples

  • The Phytelephas macrocarpa grows in the rainforests of Brazil and Peru, thriving in moist conditions.

  • The Phytelephas macrocarpa is often referred to as the vegetable ivory palm.

  • Researchers studied the Phytelephas macrocarpa to find sustainable alternatives to animal ivory.

  • Many artisans use Phytelephas macrocarpa nuts for crafting jewelry.

  • The Phytelephas macrocarpa is known for its unique nuts that resemble ivory and are often used in crafts.

  • In the Amazon rainforest, the Phytelephas macrocarpa provides resources for local artisans through its vegetable ivory nuts.

  • Artisans in Peru commonly harvest the nuts of the Phytelephas macrocarpa to create sustainable and eco-friendly products.

Synonyms

ivory palm
vsPhytelephas macrocarpa
9.5

A palm from Brazil and Peru that makes hard nuts used like ivory

is the precise species name for that same palm
ivory plant
vsPhytelephas macrocarpa
9.9

A South American palm without a stem that makes hard white nuts used like elephant tusks

is the formal species label for this palm rather than a common name
ivory-nut palm
vsPhytelephas macrocarpa
  • US
9.8

A South American palm tree with no visible trunk that produces hard white nuts used for carving

is the specific species native to Brazil and Peru rather than broadly South American
tagua
vsPhytelephas macrocarpa
9.9

A tall South American palm that makes hard white seeds used like ivory

is a stemless species from Brazil and Peru, not a tall South American palm

Surface Forms

Phytelephas macrocarpa singular
Phytelephas macrocarpas plural

Morphology

Phytelephas + macrocarpa

This is a Latin binomial: knowing 'Phytelephas' (a genus of palms) lets a learner infer that the phrase names a species of that palm, so part of the meaning (a palm species) is recoverable from the constituents. However, 'macrocarpa' is not provided and, even if parsed as 'macro-' (large) + '-carpa' (fruit), the specific biological details (stemless habit, vegetable-ivory nuts, native range) are not predictable from the parts alone, making the overall meaning only partially transparent.

Etymology

Phytelephas macrocarpa is a palm with hard, white nuts that look like little pieces of elephant ivory. The name includes Phytelephas, from words for 'plant' and 'elephant', and macrocarpa, meaning 'big fruit', so the image of an 'elephant plant' helps you remember that its seeds are used like 'ivory' today.