Arecaceae

Chamaedorea Willd.

Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Genus Parent: Arecaceae Status: Valid

Vegetative Morphology

Habit: Palms to 5 m tall, solitary, rarely clustered, rarely acaulescent from subterranean stem.

Leaves: Leaves entire, bifid at the apex, or pinnately lobed. Rachis to 2 m long.

Reproductive Morphology

Fruit: Fruit red to orange or black when mature, sessile and shiny. Mesocarp green-yellow or orange.

Infructescence: Infructescence 26-40 cm, usually arising directly from the stem. Peduncle orange or red. Calyx persistent.

Seeds: One seed per fruit.

Other

Uses: The flowers of some species used as a fragrance and for extraction of perfume.

Distribution: Mexico to Bolivia, to 2700 m in elevation.