H.B. Pedersen 97643

Caespitose palm with approximately 15 stems. Stems spiny, to 300 cm tall, DBH: 4 cm. Leaf sheath 60 cm, petiole 40 cm, rachis 125 cm, pinnae arranged in one plane – 40 on each side of the rachis. One infructescence with 28 green fruits. Vernacular name: Achupara (Spanish/Quichua). Fruits are edible. When spines are removed from the stem the outer fibrous layer can be scraped off with a machetĀŽ. It is used as wading in the compression of gunpowder into muzzle loading rifles. Informant: Mercedes Mamallacta (Quichua).