Palms   Copernicia alba in Argentina

Common Names: Caranda-i, Carandai, Palma blanca, Palma espinillo, Palma negra The difference among the words Caranda-i, Carandai are only the pronunciation in the Guarani language. However, the meaning of the words Caranda-i and Caranday are different, and for it, Copernicia alba is called Caranda-i and Trithrinax campestris is called Caranday. Description: When Copernicia alba grows in loamy and hard soils, its trunk is thin, high and gray dark and is called "Palma negra" and it is used by local people to build bungalows, fences and wire fences. However, when the palm grows in low lands and inundate soils, its trunk is thick, short and light gray and its soft and spongy wood, and it is called "Palma blanca". This is the most cold-resistant of all Copernicia species (-5°C), and grows in forest and ranges throughout north of Argentina. The leaves are palmate, grey to green; fruits are black and ovoid; seeds germinate easy and quickly if fresh. General: Copernicia alba is not endangered in habitat, even though this species is commonly cut and burnt by the farmers and cattlemen for to clean the ranges. After the fires, the palm loses the dead leaves and petioles and the trunk is flat, but the tree doesn't die. In some cases, the point of growth is damaged and the palms branch. In unusual cases, the palm branches naturally. The Provinces of Corrientes and Santa Fe, represents the south limit of the species.	Figure 1. C. alba in habitat, central Corrientes province, Argentina.
Figure 2. Unusual branching C. alba .	Figure 3. C. alba

Figure 4. C. alba growing in a floodplain.

Contributed by:	José Garcia (Text and Figure 2&4)
	Alberto Ferrari (Figure 1&3)

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