Palms   Aiphanes aculeata

Synonyms: Aiphanes caryotifolia (the old name) Martinezia caryotifolia Common Names: Coyure Palm Ruffle Palm Habitat: South American rainforest. Description: A single trunked palm which is covered in long black spines, which grows to about 10 m. It has a very attractive crown of light green, broad ruffled, spiny leaflets, (similar to Caryota , hence the old name), on pale spiny stalks. The fruits are bright red (see Figure 1.).

Figure 1. Young plant showing ruffled leaves.

General:
Despite it spininess (or perhaps because of it), this palm is very popular with palm collectors. As mentioned the leaves form a very attractive crown, and the spines add a considerable degree of interest.

Culture:
This is an easy, quick growing plant, liking the standard moist, but well drained soil, and quite a high degree of light (young plants like a bit of shade, but older specimens can take full sun). Its seed germinates easily in 1 - 2 months.

Figure 2. Plant in fruit.

Contributed by:	Ian Edwards (Figure 2).
	Tony Huntington (Figure 1).

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