Chamaedorea amabilis

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Figure 1. C. amabilis

Chamaedorea amabilis H.Wendl., Gard. Chron., III, 36: 245 (1904).

Homotypic Synonyms:

Nunnezharia amabilis (H.Wendl.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 731 (1891).

Heterotypic Synonyms:

Chamaedorea coclensis L.H.Bailey, Gentes Herb. 6: 236 (1943). (Check list Royal Botanic Garden , Kew . UK )

Distribution & Habitat:

Grow in wet forest between 500 " 1000 m altitude in slope of "Cordilleras de Tilaran, Central and Talamanca" in Costa Rica , and "Serrania de Tabasara" in Panama.

Description:

Solitary stem. 1.5 " 2 m tall and 1 " 1.5 cm in diameter 3 to 7 leaves in crown. Petioles, (beyond sheath). 5-17 cm , with tubular sheath. Simple and bifid leaf-blade, elliptical to oblong, insised distally to 1/4 the total length with margins prominently serrate.

Ascending, infrafoliar inflorescence. Male greenish and aromatic and green spicate the female. The fruits are smooth, subglobose to oblong, black when ripe and 0.7 cm in diameter

General:

Chamaedorea amabilis is a very beautiful palm, easily recognized by its simple and oblong blades, prominent serrate leaf borders, shallowly bifid and with numerous lateral veins. This species is very uncommon and is found only in very wet forests on the slopes of altitude.

Cultivation:

Shady, warm and moist.

Figure 2. C. amabilis

Figure 3. C. amabilis

Figure 4. C. amabilis

Figure 5. C. amabilis leaf detail.

Figure 6. C. amabilis inflorescence.

Contributed by:

Zulli Franceschi, Panama city (Figure 1,2,3,4,5&6)
Jose Grassia
Palms in Resistencia City

External Links:

Kew, PalmWeb, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, Google Images, Flickr, PACSOA Forums, PalmTalk