Geonoma spinescens
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Distribution & Habitat:[edit]
An under-story plant of the rainforest, at 750-1300 m elevation in the coastal area of Venezuela (Aragua, Carabobo, Yaracuy).
Description:[edit]
It is a small under-story palm to about 1 m (3 ft) tall, with long, entire leaves. G. spinescens is a member of a relatively large group of similar species, the Geonoma_lanata clade. It differs from all of these, except Geonoma_gentryi, in its spirally arranged flower pits. It is a clustering palm, 1-2 m (3-6 ft) tall with stems 1-1.5 cm (1/2-3/4 in) diameter. Leaves about 13; blade 60-80 cm long, simple and wedge shaped or divided into several leaflets. Inflorescences are borne below the leaves, branched to 3 order: peduncle about 10 cm long; rachis 10-15 cm long: flowering branches numerous, threadlike, to 10 cm long and 1—1.5 mm thick, reddish in fruit; pits loosely arranged; fruits ovoid, pointed at apex, 8 mm long and 6 mm diameter, black.
Cultivation:[edit]
Warm, sheltered and moist.
Contributed by:[edit]
Ian Edwards (Figure 1)
Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas By Andrew Henderson (Text)