Panama hat plant
Carludovica palmata

Family: Cyclanthaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub. It is palm like. It is erect and in tufts. It grows 3-4 m high. The leaves are papery and spread out like fingers on a hand. The leaves are in 4 parts and they are 40-80 cm long. The leaf stalk is rigid and has a groove running along it. The flowers grow in a fleshy spike from the ground level. There are 3-4 per plant. They are 10-20 cm long. The flowers are of one sex with both sexes on the one stalk. They are arranged in a spiral around a stalk. The fruit have a reddish, sweet pulp.

There are 3 Carludovica species. The leaves are used to make hats. One million hats are exported from Ecuador each year.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It suits moist, humid conditions. It needs fertile, well-drained soil. It is best in light shade. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Niue, North America, Pacific, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, South America, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young leaves and shoot tips are eaten in salads. The inner portion of the lower leaf stalk is eaten. The berries are eaten. The rhizomes are used as a salad and potherb. The young flowering stalk is also eaten. CAUTION: The fruit can contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the throat.

Edible parts

Young flowers, leaves, leaf stalk, fruit, rhizome, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by dividing the clump.

Its other names

Local names

Boda, Bombonaje, Bombonassa, Chapeu-panama, Chidra, Dogogo, Elotillo, Isan, Jipi, Jipijapa, Lisan, Lisan yuyu, Pagoman, Palma de jipi, Pumpuna, Ouchuwa, Pe'so, Pumpuna, Rampida, Tanshi, Toquilla, Turu panka, Uttuvo

Synonyms

Carludovica gigantea Kuntze; Carludovica incisa H. Wendl.; Carludivicia jamaicensis Lodd. ex Fawcett & Harris; Ludovia palmata (Ruiz. & Pav.) Pers.; Salmai palmata (Ruiz. & Pav.) Willd.;