Common Name: Panama Hat Plant

General Information

Panama hat plant is a stemless, somewhat palm-like, evergreen plant, producing clusters of large, fan-shaped leaves 1 - 4 metres tall[, ].
The plant is often cultivated in S. America, especially in Ecuador, for the fibre that is obtained from the leaf stem[, , ]. The fibre is especially used to make hats - the 'Panama hat'[]. These hats are imported in quantity from Ecuador into other Central American countries, and are so esteemed that poor people often buy them at very high prices[]. The plant is also used as a source of food[]. Because of its handsome appearance, the plant is often grown for ornament[].

Known Hazards

The fruits contain calcium oxalate crystals[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Western S. America - Peru, north through Central America to southern Mexico.

Habitat

Moist or usually wet, mixed, lowland or mountain rainforest, sometimes in open places, especially in areas of secondary growth, at elevations below 800 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 800 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 32°c, but can tolerate 12 - 37°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 800 - 2,200mm[].
Succeeds in full sun, but prefers a shady position, growing well in the shade of trees[]. Prefers a fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[].
When grown from seed, the first leaves are ready for harvesting after about 7 years[]. If suckers are used, the leaves can be harvested after about 18 months, by which stage there will be about 20 - 30 leaves[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves and shoot tips - raw. Eaten in salads, they are said to have the flavour of asparagus[].

Inner portions of lower leafstalks[].

Fruit[]. A red, slightly sweet pulp[]. The fruit contains calcium oxalate crystals[], which can give a sensation in the mouth of lots of small needles being stuck into the skin[].

Roots - raw or cooked[]. Added to salads or cooked as a potherb[].

Young inflorescences[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the stems. It is used for making Panama hats, cigar cases, small bags, mats etc[, , ]. The fibre, or more properly narrow strips of the very young leaves, is notable for its strength, durability, and flexibility[]. From it are made the well-known Panama hats in Central America 'sombreros de Jipijapa' which, despite their English name, are not made in Panama but in a restricted area of Ecuador where atmospheric conditions are particularly suitable for their handling[]. The leaves are cut while young, and the stiff parallel veins removed, after which they are slit into shreds, but not separated at the stalk end, and immersed in boiling water for a short time and then bleached in the sun[].

The leaves are split into two parts and used as thatch[, ]. The whole leaf is used as an emergency umbrella in sudden downpours[].

Used for making brooms[].

Propagation

Seed -

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