SafePlants

Chamaedorea: A Diverse Genus of Palms

The genus Chamaedorea comprises a diverse group of palms native to the subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas. This genus encompasses around 107 different species.

Considerations for Pets and Children

• Some species of Chamaedorea produce small berries.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Chamaedorea
• Family: Arecaceae (Palm family)
• The text mentions several species including Chamaedorea elegans, Chamaedorea seifrizii, Chamaedorea metallica, Chamaedorea radicalis, Chamaedorea microspadix, Chamaedorea falcifera, Chamaedorea cataractarum and Chamaedorea alternans.
• Synonym for Chamaedorea pochutlensis: Nunnezharia pochutlensis (Liebm.) Kuntze

Common Names

• Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans), also seen as Parl Palm
• Neanthe Bella Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
• Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
• Reed Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
• Cat Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)
• Metallica Palm (Chamaedorea metallica)
• Good Luck Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
• Miniature Fish Tail Dwarf Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
• Cascade Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)
• Cataract Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)
• Mexican Hat Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas.
• Chamaedorea seifrizii is native to Mexico and Central America, thriving as an understory palm in rainforests.
• Chamaedorea radicalis is from high-altitude, cool rainforests within the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains of western Mexico.
• Chamaedorea ernesti-augustimale can be found in the understory forest of Chiquibul, Belize.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Small palms, generally growing to 0.3-6 meters (1-20 feet).
• Evergreen palms with slender, solitary, or clustered stems.
• Leaves can be large and either pinnate (feather-like) or shaped like a fish tail.
• Some species, like Chamaedorea microspadix, exhibit a clumping growth habit, forming a small colony of bamboo-like stems.
• Chamaedorea elegans is a graceful, slow-growing palm that reaches 3 to 5 feet in height after several years.
• Chamaedorea radicalis is a dwarf palm that is often seen without a trunk.

Ecological Interactions

• Dioecious species such as Chamaedorea alternans, relying on ambophily (pollination by both insects and wind).

Quirky Facts

• Parlor palms (Chamaedorea elegans) have been used as indoor plants in the United States for at least 30 years, and have enjoyed a place in British homes for over a century.
• Xate leaves are produced from 3 of the 11 different palms within the Chamaedorea species and are harvested for various uses.

Further Information

• Los Tuxtlas Biological Station in Veracruz state, Mexico.
• University of California, Los Angeles.