Chontilla
Geonoma interrupta

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It can have a single stem or up to 10 stems. They can be 0.1-7 m tall and 2-12 cm wide. They are light brown. There are 6-23 leaves and the blades are 2 m long. The leaflets may be regular or irregular. There are 3-41 curved leaflets on each side. There are usually narrow leaflets among broad leaflets. The flowering stalk is among the leaves. The flowering stalk has 1-3 orders or branching. There are 8-32 flowering branches. The lower ones are branched again and 9-25 cm long and 1-3 mm thick. The fruit are round and 3-6 mm long.

There are about 51 Geonoma species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is an understorey plant in lower mountain rainforest. It need well drained soil. It grows up to about 1000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Lesser Antilles, Martinique, Mexico, North America, Peru, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young tender flowers are cooked and eaten. The palm heart is somewhat bitter but is eaten.

Edible parts

Young flowers, palm hearts, cabbage, seed, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cana brava, Chillibo, Chocho blanco, Coco macaque, Cortadera, Ewenpaden, Juo, San Pablo, Sisawa, Surtuba, Pacuca, Palmiche, Turuji, Uksha, Urpi chunta, Yanga

Synonyms

Geonoma binervia Oerst.; Geonoma dominicana L.H.Bailey; Geonoma dryanderae Burret; Geonoma edulis H. Wendl. ex Spruce; Geonoma leptoclada Burret; Geonoma magnifica Linden & H. Wendl.; Geonoma martinicensis Mart.; Geonoma megaloptila Burret; Geonoma mexicana Lieb. ex Mart,; Geonoma oxycarpa Mart.; Geonoma pinnatifrons Willd.; Geonoma pinnatifrons var. vaga (Griseb.) Burret; Geonoma platybothros Burret; Geonoma pleeana Mart.; Geonoma preussii Burret; Geonoma purdieana Spruce; Geonoma ramossissima Burret; Geonoma vaga Griseb.; Martinezia interrupta Ruiz. & Paw.; Caution: Some of these synonyms have now changed.