Cacheo
Pseudophoenix ekmanii
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A solitary palm. The trunks are white and waxy. They grow 6 m high. They bulge above the mid point. It has distinct rings. The crown-shaft is dark green and 60-100 cm long. The leaf crown is open and forms a circle. The leaves are 2-2.6 m long. They are erect. They have brown scales on the lower surface. The flower stalk hangs down. The flower and fruit stalks are slender. The fruit are round and have 2-3 lobes. They are about 2 cm across and reddish.
There are 4 Pseudophoenix species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in open savanna. It grows in low, dry calcareous hills.
Countries/locations it is found in
Central America, Dominican Republic, Haiti, West Indies
How it is used for food
The sap removed from the stems is fermented into wine. This kills the tree.
Edible parts
Sap - palm wine
How it is grown
It is slow growing.
Its other names
Local names
Cacheo de Oviedo