Ceroxylon alpinum subsp. ecuadorense

Ceroxylon alpinum subsp. ecuadorense
Galeano

Original
reference:
Caldasia 17: 395 (1995)

Morphology:
Different from subsp. alpinum in having the infloresecence axis glabrous or with few scales (versus densely covered with scales), 9-12 stamens (versus 10-17), and anthers only 2 mm long (versus 6-7 mm long).

Distribution:
Endemic to Ecuador.

Notes:
The separation between Ceroxylon echinulatum and C alpinum subsp. ecuadorense appears not to be quite sharp. Both taxa have more or less pendulous pinnae and though fruits are usally quite conspicuously warty in C. echinulatum, populations with less warty fruits approaching those of C. alpinum subsp. ecuadorense are known from SW Ecuador.

Conservation
status: Vulnerable

–
IUCN criteria:
A1cd, B1, B2c
(Borchsenius & Skov 1999)

Common
names:
Palma de ramo
–
Spanish
(H. Balslev #62512 ).

Palma real
–
Spanish
(H. Balslev #62512 ).

Ramito
–
Spanish
(H. Balslev #62512 ).

Uses:

The leaves are used for making ceremonial baskets (“ramo”) for the easter parades
(H. Balslev #62512 ).