| Field notes | Caespitose palm in a dense cluster of more than 50 stems. Stem 7 m long, dbh 3 cm; internodes with black, flattened spines, to 5.2. cm long, longest at the base of the stem. Leaves 6; sheath and petiole 52 cm long, encircling the stem for 4 cm, covered with spines; rachis 95 cm long, with spines to 3.6 cm long, pointing in various directions; pinnae 33 per side, regularly distributed, alternating. Inflorescence spicate, subtended by the lowermost leaf; prophyll 16 cm long; inserted at base of the peduncle, splitting up for 8 cm, brown, spineless; bract inserted 0.8 cm above the prophyll, 36 cm long, encircling the peduncle for 8 cm; peduncle 18.5 cm long, ovate, 0.8 x 0.35 cm, bending; spike 12 cm long, 3 cm wide. Infructescence (Collected from another stem in the same cluster): Prophyll 16 cm long; bract partly missing, inserted 1 cm above the prophyll; peduncle 29 cm long, ovate, 1.3 x 0.6 cm in diam., bending. Infructescence very dense, with 42 bordeaux-red ripe fruits. Fruits 4.7 x 3 cm; mesocarp juicy, sweet and very delicious. Weight: 42 fruits: 650 gram. According to A. Ramon the fruits are worshipped by the indigenous people of the region, who consume them as sweets. The palm was left when cutting the surrounding forest. |
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