Palmito
Aiphanes macroloba

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm with 1-3 stems in a cluster. They are 2 m tall. The trunks are 2-3 cm across. They are covered with black spines 3 cm long. There are often suckers high on the stem. There are 5-8 leaves. They are simple with one large leaflet at the end. This can be 82 cm long. The edges are jagged. There are 2-3 leaflets near the base. The flowering stalks are among the leaves. They stick upwards. The fruit are 1 cm long by 7 mm wide. They are red or orange.

There are about 38 Aiphanes species. They grow in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the Andes between 600-1400 m altitude. Sometimes it is as low as 100 m altitude. It grows in shady and humid parts of the forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Ecuador, South America

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Cabbage, palm heart

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Pikanar

Synonyms

Aiphanes chocoensis A.H. Gentry; Aiphanes monostachys Burret;