Aiphanes verrucosa
Borchs. & Balslev
Original
reference:
Nord. J. Bot. 9: 389 (1989)
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).
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