Aiphanes verrucosa

Aiphanes verrucosa
Borchs. & Balslev


Original
reference:

Nord. J. Bot. 9: 389 (1989)

Type:
Balslev 62531 – Ecuador

Morphology:
Understorey palm. Stems clustered, to 5 m tall, 4-5 cm in diameter. Leaves distichous. Leaf blade 100-130 cm long; pinnae 50-70 on each side, narrow, lanceolate, inserted in groups and pointing in all directions, the central ones 35-40 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm wide, only slightly jagged at apex. Inflorescence 80-120 cm long; branches 50-70, spreading, with a short, thick proximal part, and a slender distal part. Flowers creamish yellow. Female flowers 1 cm long or more. Fruits 2-2.5 cm in diameter, greenish white, with brown warty spots.



Distribution:
Endemic to the Andes of SE Ecuador.

Notes:
In Colombia, this species is replaced by the closely related A. lindeniana (H. Wendl.) H. Wendl., which differs in its smaller female flowers, and red, smooth fruit.



Conservation
status:
Endangered


IUCN criteria:
B1

(
Borchsenius & Skov 1999)

Common
names:

Chonta

Spanish

(V.v.d. Eynden #726).

Uses:

The mesocarp is edible
(V.v.d. Eynden #726).


Specimen
list