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aiphanes
Scientific Name: Aiphanes
Family: Arecaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Aiphanes: The Spiny Palm Genus
Aiphanes is a genus of palms characterized by their spiny nature. They are native to the tropical regions of South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean.
Considerations for Pets
- These palms are noted for their spines, which may present a physical hazard.
Considerations for Children
- These palms are noted for their spines, which may present a physical hazard.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Family: Arecaceae (Palmae)
- Genus: Aiphanes Willd.
Species Highlights
Aiphanes horrida- Common Names: Ruffle Palm, Coyure Palm
- Distribution: Native to northern South America and Trinidad and Tobago.
- Description: A solitary, spiny tree, growing 3-10 meters tall with grayish stems up to 10m tall and up to 15 cm in diameter, ringed with flattened black spines (up to 2 cm long) and leaf scars.
- Synonyms: Aiphanes aculeata Willd.
- Accepted Scientific Name: Aiphanes horrida (Jacq.) Burret Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 11: 575 (1932).
- Common Names: Guinea bactris
- Distribution: Native to the insular Caribbean, from Hispaniola to Grenada, and widely cultivated elsewhere.
- Description: A spiny palm tree, usually 5-8 meters tall.
- Synonyms: Aiphanes concinna, Martinezia lindeniana.
- Common Name: Corozo Palm
- Distribution: Native to the understory of seasonally dry forests on the Pacific coast in Ecuador.
- Description: A small to medium-sized, clustering palm.
- Common Names: Devil Palm
- Other Names: Cocos rura, Mararay, Corozo, Macaguita, Marara, Macahuite, Corozo del Orinoco, Corozo anchame
Distribution and Habitat
- Aiphanes species are found in tropical regions of South and Central America and the Caribbean.
- Specific locations mentioned include:
- Northern South America
- Trinidad and Tobago
- The insular Caribbean (Hispaniola to Grenada)
- Ecuador (Bolívar, El Oro, Loja, Pichincha provinces)
- Barbados, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Dominica, Martinique, St. Vincent (excluding Cuba)
- They typically grow in wet forests, at altitudes up to 2000 meters.
Morphological Characteristics
- The genus is characterized by its spiny habit and praemorse pinnae.
- Aiphanes horrida has solitary, upright, grayish stems to 10 m tall and up to 15 cm in diameter, ringed with flattened black spines (up to 2 cm long) and leaf scars.
Ecological Role
- Aiphanes eggersii is native to the understory.
Further Information
- World Checklist of Selected Plant Families