Desmoncus polyacanthos
Mart.
Arecaceae
There has been considerable confusion in deciding species limits within this genus. Many authorities in the past have viewed Desmoncus as being made up of a number of very localized and similar endemic species, with estimations of total species ranging as high as 60 or more. Most modern treatments have considerably reduced this number - some treatments having reduced it to as low as 7. However, we are following the treatment in 'A Revision of Desmoncus (Arecaceae)' Henderson A., Phytotaxa 35; 1-88 2011, which recognizes 24 species[
659- Title
- Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 8
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
- Year
- 1940
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Various articles on botany, including species of Saurauia in Mexico. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
768- Title
- Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-691-08537-4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos.
,
771- Title
- A Revision of Desmoncus (Arecaceae)
- Publication
- Phytotaxa 35; 1-88
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Website
- http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/
- Publisher
- Magnolia Press; Auckland
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-86977-839-2
- Description
- A good description of each species with fairly detailed notes on habitat. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Atitara aerea (Drude) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara caespitosa (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara dubia Kuntze
Atitara inermis (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara leptoclona (Drude) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara macroacantha (Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara oligacantha (Barb.Rodr.) Kuntze
Atitara oxyacantha (Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara paraensis Barb.Rodr.
Atitara phengophylla (Drude) Kuntze
Atitara philippiana (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara polyacantha (Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara prunifera (Poepp. ex Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara pycnacantha (Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara riparia (Spruce) Kuntze
Atitara setosa (Mart.) Kuntze
Desmoncus aereus Drude
Desmoncus brevisectus Burret
Desmoncus caespitosus Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus campylacanthus Burret
Desmoncus dasyacanthus Burret
Desmoncus duidensis Steyerm.
Desmoncus inermis Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus latisectus Burret
Desmoncus leptoclonos Drude
Desmoncus longisectus Burret
Desmoncus macroacanthos Mart.
Desmoncus maguirei L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus mirandanus L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus oligacanthus Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus oxyacanthos Mart.
Desmoncus paraensis (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus peraltus L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus phengophyllus Drude
Desmoncus philippianus Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus prestoei L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus prunifer Poepp. ex Mart.
Desmoncus pycnacanthos Mart.
Desmoncus riparius Spruce
Desmoncus setosus Mart.
Desmoncus ulei Dammer
Common Name:
Inflorescence
Photograph by: Andrew J. Henderson'
Image credit to Palmweb
Fruiting stem
Photograph by: Andrew J. Henderson'
Image credit to Palmweb
General Information
Desmoncus polyacanthos is a spiny, evergreen, climbing palm producing a cluster of slender, unbranched stems from 1 - 37 metres long that scramble into the surrounding vegetation[
314- Title
- Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
,
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. Plants are highly variable in size and armature depending on the available amount of light and water[
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
].
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use and as a source of materials.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
,
771- Title
- A Revision of Desmoncus (Arecaceae)
- Publication
- Phytotaxa 35; 1-88
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Website
- http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/
- Publisher
- Magnolia Press; Auckland
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-86977-839-2
- Description
- A good description of each species with fairly detailed notes on habitat. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; Caribbean - Trinidad to the Windward Islands.
Habitat
Understorey of rainforests, also along rivers but not in swamps[
314- Title
- Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
,
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. Found in various habitats, including lowland rainforest on terra firme, flooded forest, campina, coastal forest, or scrub forest near the sea, at elevations to 1,000 metres[
771- Title
- A Revision of Desmoncus (Arecaceae)
- Publication
- Phytotaxa 35; 1-88
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Website
- http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/
- Publisher
- Magnolia Press; Auckland
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-86977-839-2
- Description
- A good description of each species with fairly detailed notes on habitat. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Climber |
| Height | 12.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Requires a sheltered, moist but well-drained position[
314- Title
- Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The roots are anti-pruritic, anti-pyretic and depurative[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
,
739- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Brazil
- Publication
-
- Author
- Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications; Michigan.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-917256-42-5
- Description
- An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
]. A decoction is used externally to wash the skin in the treatment of itch, chicken pox, measles and fevers[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. It is also used in herbal baths[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
The ashes of the leaves are rubbed over the body as a treatment for fevers[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. The burned leaves are also used as a rub to treat abdominal pains[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Other Uses
The stems are used for weaving baskets and seives; and for tying various items[
768- Title
- Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-691-08537-4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
