Copernicia alba

Common names

Caranday Palm, Caranday Wax Palm.

Curiosities

Trunks are used as telephone poles, and in electrical lines, wire fences, and house construction. The leaves are used to make hats, mats and Moses baskets.

Origin

Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.

Habitat

Low savannah, with seasonal flooding.

Morphology

The trunk, naked and columnar, can reach more than 20-30 m of height. Palmate glaucous leaves. Inflorescences longer than the leaves. Fruits dark brown. Monoecious.

Climate

Tropical to warm temperate. This palm has tolerated temperatures down to –3.1ºC (26.3ºF, USDA Zone 9b).

Germination

Growing

Requires deep and rich soils, tolerates flooded soil for some months, prefers a sunny position even when young. Resistant to frosts down to -8°C.