Phytelephas tumacana

Botanical Description

Phytelephas tumacana is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm growing up to 10 metres tall. The unbranched stem can be 20cm in diameter; it is topped by a crown of 10 - 15 more or less erect leaves that can each be up to 5 metres long[ 768 Title Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas Publication Author Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R. Publisher Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey. Year 1995 ISBN 0-691-08537-4 Description An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos. ]. The seeds have been traded internationally in the past as a source of vegetable ivory. The plant is also used locally as a food and source of thatch. Subpopulations have been severely decimated by agriculture and are now restricted to only a few rivers. The plant has a range of uses - utilization and trade continue at local and minor international levels.The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].