| Field notes | Subcanopy palm. 7 m high. Trunk light brown colour with long black spines (6-7 cm). Clearly visible, white leaf scars, about 2 cm wide. cf. 60 cm. 10 leaves, pinnate, abscising, but some fibre remains just below crown. Leaf sheath open. Petiole 80 cm long, 8 cm wide, white-brown colour on abaxial side and with spines, brown on adaxial in basal parts, green in more distal parts. Rachis 230 cm, 100 pinnae pr. side, reduplicate, inserted in groups of 4, in different planes. 2-3 cm between groups, 1 cm between pinnae within groups. Central pinnae 70 cm long, 4 cm wide, with small spines on abaxial surface. Inflorescence prophyl 50 cm long. Peduncle 10 cm, rachis 20 cm. 30 1st order branches, about 20 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. 3 infructescences present. Infrafoliar, about 3 m above ground. Green peduncle and rachis. Immature fruits green and glabrous, 2x1.5 cm, pearshaped with beak. With persistent, joined petals. Vernacular name: Chonta (spanish), Uwi (Shuar). Uses: Heart and fruits (boiled) edible. Fruits also used to produce a fermented drink ("Chicha") and as decoration. Heart (of young specimens) used medicinally as sedative, and "juice"from young plants used as anti-inflammatory. |
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