Chamaedorea tepejilote

Common names

Pacaya Palm.

Curiosities

Tepejilote is the name used by the Indians.

Origin

Central America, from Mexico to North Colombia.

Habitat

Rainforest.

Morphology.

A solitary palm, although it can be also found in groups. Adult plants are 2 to 7 m tall. Leaves have between 12 and 25 leaflets on each side of the rachis. The leaflets are lanceolate, and 16 to 70 cm long. Thick nodes with prominent rings. Aerial roots near the trunk base which in humid conditions can normally root in soil. Solitary, infrafoliar inflorescences. Fruits are rounded and ellipsoid, changing from green to black when ripe.

Climate

Tropical, subtropical to warm temperate.

Germination

Fresh seeds germinate fast, in 1 to 4 months. The mesocarp (fruit skin and pulp) contains calcium oxalates, which produce burning in contact with skin.

Growing

A rather fast grower in a shady position.