Geonoma ferruginea
H. Wendl. ex Spruce
gbif· cc-by-sa
GBIF
gbif· cc-by-nc
Rapid Reference Collection (RRC) | Field Museum of Natural History - Keller Science Action Center
Description
A palm. It has a cluster of stems. These can form large clumps. They are 1-4 m tall and the trunks are 2-2.5 cm wide. They are light brown. The leaf blade is 50-60 cm long and divided into 3 curved leaflets on each side. There can be 10-15 leaflets on each side. The flowering stalk is below the leaves and has 1-2 orders of branching. There are 4-13 branches. They are short and thick. They become red when the plant is fruiting. The fruit are round but slightly pointed at the tip and 6-7 mm wide. They are black.
Edible Uses
The fruit is eaten.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in lower mountain forest between about 700-1400 m altitude.
Where It Grows
Central America, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama,
Synonyms
References (3)
- Balick, M.J. and Beck, H.T., (Ed.), 1990, Useful palms of the World. A Synoptic Bibliography. Colombia p 658 (As Geonoma microstachys),
- Grayum, M. H., 2000, MBG: Research: Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica: Draft Treatments p 7
- Haynes, J., & McLaughlin, J., 2000, Edible palms and Their Uses. University of Florida Fact sheet MCDE-00-50-1 p 6
