What is an Ivory Palm?

An ivory palm is a palm tree which yields small, dense white nuts made from a material that closely resembles elephant ivory. The nuts are usually about the size of a hen's egg, although this varies depending on which type of ivory palm is under discussion, and the white substance is hemicellulose, often called vegetable ivory when it is being sold. People who are concerned about elephant poaching encourage the use of vegetable ivory, which is very difficult to distinguish from true ivory. Individuals working to save the rain forest also encourage the production and sale of vegetable ivory products, creating economic value for living rain forest plants.

The tree most commonly used to make vegetable ivory is Phytelephas macrocarpa, an ivory palm from South America common in Brazil and Peru. This type of ivory palm has no stem or trunk, instead emerging directly from the ground. The palm nuts cluster along the ground and can be harvested annually for vegetable ivory. Seeds from this palm are also sometimes identified as Corosso or Tagua nut. In Micronesia and the South Pacific, another type of Ivory Palm grows: Metroxylon amicorum, the Caroline Ivory Nut Palm. In Africa, Hyphaene ventricosa provides yet another source of vegetable ivory. The nuts of this palm have a sweet and juicy outer pulp which reminds some consumers of gingerbread, leading to the common name of Gingerbread palm.

Many traditionally carved products in Africa and South America are made with nuts from the ivory palm, because they are a renewable resource and they are much cheaper than true ivory. Highly educated consumers may be able to differentiate between ivories of vegetable and animal origin, but in general the two are difficult to tell apart, as they are both creamy white, dense, and easy to polish. In South America, the ivory palm is only one of many useful plants to be found in the rain forest, and is often cited by conservationists as a good reason for preserving the rain forest. In Africa, carvers who have traditionally worked with ivory of elephant origin have turned to the ivory palm to create beautiful traditional crafts while preserving their elephant populations.

Carvings from ivory palm nuts are somewhat more limited than traditional ivory because of the size of the nuts. However, some artisans have created glue and seamless joins so that they can create much larger carved pieces from multiple joined ivory palm nuts. Especially large carvings should be handled with care so that they do not crack along the joins. Just like elephant ivory, vegetable ivory can also dry out and become brittle. If worn on the flesh, the natural oils of the skin will keep it in good condition, but otherwise it should be wiped with a damp cloth and oiled periodically to maintain a beautiful look.