Common Name: Andean Wax Palm

General Information

Andean wax palm is a slow-growing but eventually very tall, single-stemmed, evergreen palm. Plants can eventually reach heights of 15 - 50 metres tall, with exceptional specimens to 60 metres. Mature specimens have very long, bare, unbranched stems about 50 - 60cm in diameter; in adults this is covered with a thick layer of wax; and topped with a crown of 18 - 30 large, horizontal leaves[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild, mainly for the wax obtained from its trunk.
The habitat has come under severe pressure from increasing agriculture. Adult trees, although protected by law, are removed for ornamental use. The leaves, too, are collected in large quantities for use in religious festivals[]. Consequently, the tree has been classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Colombia.

Habitat

Moist slopes in cloud forests at high elevations in the Andes[, , ]. Montane rain forest at elevations from 2,000 - 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the highland tropics[]. This species tolerates several degrees of short-lived frost in its native climate[], it can be grown outdoors in essentially frost-free temperate climates[].
A difficult plant to cultivated outside its native range, it succeeds in most fertile moist but well-drained soils in a sheltered sunny position[, ]. Requires a humus-rich soil with bright filtered light and cool high humidity[].
A very slow-growing plant, it takes about 15 years from when the seed germinates until the tree starts to form a trunk[].
Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[]. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates[]. Palms can also often be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help[].
This species is the national tree of Colombia[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms must be grown if seed is required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit. We have seen no reports for this species, but the fruit is probably edible[].

Medicinal

The wax obtained from the trunk is sometimes used medicinally[].

Other Uses

A wax obtained from the trunk is used for making candles[]. The wax is scraped from the trunk and processed into candles and made into soap[]. Scraping the wax from the trunk does not harm the tree in any way[].
The wood has been used by local people for torches. It is excellent for this purpose because of the wax covering[].

An essential oil is obtained from the wax[].

The young leaves are often harvested in quantity at Easter, being used as decorations on Palm Sunday[].

The trunk has been used as a conduit for water. Being so straight and of great length, it made an ideal pipeline[]. It has also been used as fence posts, for traditional house construction and for building bridges[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[]. Stored seed is very slow to germinate. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing may shorten the germination time. Plants form a long tap-root some time before forming a shoot so the seed is best sown in groups of two or three in each deep pot, thinning if necessary to the best seedling. Germination of fresh seed usually takes place in 3 - 4 months at 25°c[], but can take 18 months[].

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