Phytelephas is a genus containing six known species of dioecious[3] palms (family Arecaceae), occurring from southern Panama along the Andes to Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, northwestern Brazil, and Peru.

The kernel is covered with a brown, flaky skin and shaped like a small avocado, roughly 4–8 cm in diameter.

When dried out, it can be carved just like elephant ivory; it is often used for beads, buttons, figurines and jewelry, and can be dyed.

[5] In Ecuador, the Ecuadorean ivory palm (P. aequatorialis) is the species whose kernels are widely harvested.

The Colombian ivory palm (P. schottii) and P. tenuicaulis, both formerly included in P. macrocarpa, are the usual source of the product in Colombia.