Editing Spiny Palms (section)

===Some Spiny Palms of the Americas===
''Acrocomia'':
A genus of 26 species  which is widely
distributed from cen tral Mexico to northern Argentina,
Paraguay and throughout the islands  of the West Indies.
They are tall,  solitary palms with plumosely  arranged
leaflets, viciously spined on  all parts, even the fruits of
some  species (''A. emensis'' and ''A. hasleri'',  both
formally ''Acanthococos'').

''Aiphanes'': A genus of 38 species restricted to the islands
of the West  Indies and rainforests of northern  South
America. They are solitary  palms with broad leaflets,
spined on  all parts except the fruits.

''Astrocaryum'': A genus of about 47  species distributed from
Mexico  through central America to eastern  Brazil and the
West Indies. They are  clumping and solitary, with par
ticularly vicious spines on all parts,  even the fruits of
some species (''A. mexicanum'').

''Bactris'': A genus of around 240 species  distributed from
Mexico through cen tral America to Surinane and in par
ticular the islands of the West Indies.  They are mainly
clumping palms with  spines on all parts except the fruits.

''Gastrococos crispa:'' A monotypic  genus restricted to
Cuba. It has a  swollen trunk with spines on all parts
except the fruits.

''Desmoncis'': A large genus of 40  species confined to central
and  south America. They are climbing  palms with spines on
all parts except  seeds.