Wettinia aequalis
(O. F. Cook & Doyle) R. Bernal
ArecaceaeShoots
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(c) jerson-chanchay, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) jerson-chanchay, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Palm heart
The palm heart is edible.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It grows up to 800 m above sea level.
Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, South America,
How to Identify
A palm. It has a single stem and grows 6-8 m tall. These stems can be 10-12 cm across. There are stilt roots 50 cm long. There are 5-6 leaves. These are 3-5 m long and there are 20-35 leaflets on each side. The flowering shoots are 15-35 cm long. The fruit are 2-3 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide. They are yellow when ripe.
Other Uses
The outsides of the stems are very hard. They are used in construction, especially for the walls of houses.
Names & Synonyms
Acrostigma aequale O. F. Cook & DoyleCatoblastus aequalis (O. F. Cook & Doyle) BurretCatostigma aequale (O. F. Cook & Doyle) Burret
References (3)
- Marcia, M. J., et al, 2011, Palm Uses in Northwestern South America: A Quantitative Review. Bot. Rev. (2011) 77:462-570
- Torre, de la L., et al, 2008, Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador. Herbario QCA. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. p 209
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
