Geonoma cuneata

H. Wendl. ex Spruce

ArecaceaeFruit

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(c) Carlos G Velazco-Macias, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit

The fruit is edible.

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet forests from sea level to 1,200 m above sea level.

Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, South America,

Countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, El Salvador, Uruguay, Venezuela

How to Identify

A palm. It has a short stem that can be 1.5 m tall. This is 3 cm across. The leaf stalks are 14-60 cm long. The leaves are18-76 cm long and can have leaflets divided like fingers on a hand.

How to Grow

Requires a shady position. Grows best in a moist but well-drained soil.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is said to be magic, and is used to treat stomach pains. This report does not make it clear if there are two distinct statements here, or if the plant is believed to cure stomach pains because it is magic.

Other Uses

The leaves are used for thatch.

Names & Synonyms

Yo ya chi

Geonoma compacta Linden [Invalid]Geonoma cuneata subsp. cuneataGeonoma cuneata var. cuneataGeonoma cuneata var. gracilis (H.Wendl. ex Spruce) Skov ex Govaerts & J.Dransf.Geonoma cuneatoidea BurretGeonoma decurrens H.Wendl. ex BurretGeonoma gracilis H.Wendl. ex SpruceGeonoma obovata H.Wendl. ex Spruce

References (5)

Barfod, A. S. & Kvist, L. P., 1996, Comparative Ethnobotanical Studies of the Amerindian Groups in Coastal Ecuador. The Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. p 77
Grayum, M. H., 2000, MBG: Research: Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica: Draft Treatments p 5
Marcia, M. J., et al, 2011, Palm Uses in Northwestern South America: A Quantitative Review. Bot. Rev. (2011) 77:462-570
Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew