| Field notes | Solitary palmtree. Stem 4.20 m. tall. DBH. 39 cm. leafsheats deciduous. Leaves more or less erect. leafsheats splitting up in a dense mat of brown fibers, some being thin and hairlike, others stiff and needle like. In node no. 1, 2 and 3 below lowermost leaf was found inflorescence buds. In node 4 one inflorescence, node no.: 5 one young infructescence (fruits to 1.40 cm long incl. calyx). Node no. 6: one infructescence with green fruits to 3.5 cm long (excl calyx). Node no 7: Infructescence with green fruits to 3.6 cm long (excl calyx). Node no. 8: Almost mature, black fruits. Lowest scar from an inflorescence was found 1.5 meter above ground. Fruits with ruminate endosperm. NV: Ungurahua (Quichua), Chapil (Castellano). According to A. Ramon the fruits are used for oilextraction, the oil being used as hairoil by the indigenous people of the area. The fruits are occasionally sold at the marked in Coca, the mesocarp being consumed as a kind of sweet. A. Ramon says it is common practice in the area to cut the palms in order to harvest the fruits. AAU. org. no. AAU 67309 |
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