Type : seedlings
 
 
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of food and materials. It is often grown as an ornamental, being especially suited for planting in polluted cities and in restricted places along the sides of roads
 
 
Edible Uses
We have no specific information regarding the edibility of the apical bud, but it is closely related to several other species where the bud is eaten. If edible, the following notes would 
apply:-
Leaves - cooked
The apical bud, often known as a 'palm heart', is eaten as a vegetable
Eating this bud leads to the death of the tree because it is unable to make side shoots

Agroforestry Uses:
An important honey plant, the flowers attract numerous bees.
 
Other Uses
The leaves can be used as a thatch on barns and houses.
The dry leaf sheaths (yaguas) can be spread out flat to make the sides of buildings.
The twisted young leaf segments are woven into chair seats and backs.Fresh leaves are widely displayed locally for religious services on Palm Sunday.The stems were once widely used in rural construction.Boards hewn from the harder outer part of the trunks are widely used for siding and flooring in rural construction. However, they are very susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites