Geonoma undata

Geonoma undata
Klotzsch


Original
reference:

Linnaea 20: 452 (1847)


Morphology:
Understorey or subcanopy palm. Stem solitary, to 10 m tall, and 10 cm in diameter. Leaf blade 140-250 cm long, with up to 50 unequal segments on each side, these soft, moderately folded longitudinally, held in one or several planes, often with the outer part of the segments pendulous. Inflorescence branched 2-4 times, to 50 cm long and 80 cm wide; peduncle stout, 10-30 cm long; prophyll and peduncular bract of equal length, somewhat furrowed, deciduous; flower bearing branches 20-50 cm long, 3-7 mm in diameter, folded in bud; flower pits loosely arranged, 2-5 mm apart, large, 2-3 mm across, usually with a conspicuous upper lip. Female flowers with staminodes united into a tube. Fruits bluish black, 6-8 mm long.



Distribution:
The Lesser Antilles, Central America, and throughout the Andes from Colombia and Venzuela to Bolivia, in premontane and lower montane forest, often left in pasture.

Notes:
Related to G. densa and G. weberbaueri. Precise delimitation of the three species is difficult.


Common
names:

Caña brava

Spanish

(H. Balslev #62437 and additional references).

Chontilla


(E. Asplund #19099).

Colapato

Spanish

(A. Barfod #60004).

Hoja ancha

Spanish

(H. Balslev #4289).

Micana

Quichua

(W. Palacios #6067).

Uses:

Leaves are occasionally used for thatch
(H. Balslev #4289).

Leaves are occassionally used for packing material
(A. Barfod #60004).

The black substance of mature fruits is used as a dye
(H. Balslev #4284).

The stem is used for posts
(W. Palacios #6067).

Synonym
list
(7)

Specimen
list