The seed of the tagua palm (Phytelephas macrocarpa) of tropical America. Each drupelike fruit contains six to nine bony seeds. The extremely hard endosperm of the seed is used as a substitute for ivory. Vegetable ivory can be carved and tooled to make buttons, chess pieces, knobs, inlays, and various ornamental articles. The hard, white seeds (coquilla nuts) of the Brazilian palm (Attalea funifera) are often used as a substitute for vegetable ivory in making the same or similar articles.