Geonoma congesta
H.Wendl. ex Spruce
Arecaceae
Common Name:
Growing in native habitat in the Carara National Park, Costa Rica
Photograph by: Scott Zona
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Growing in native habitat in the Carara National Park, Costa Rica
Photograph by: Scott Zona
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Flowers and leaves
Photograph by: Franz Xaver
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Close-up of the flowers
Photograph by: Franz Xaver
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
General Information
Geonoma congesta is an evergreen palm growing up to 9 metres tall. The plant usually produces a cluster of unbranched stems, often in large clumps of 10 - 20 srems; these stems can be 2 - 4cm in diameter; they are each topped by a crown of around 6 - 13 usually erect leaves up to 1.7 metres long[
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.
,
773- Title
- A Revision of Geonoma (Arecaceae)
- Publication
- Phytotaxa 17: 1 - 271
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Website
- http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/
- Publisher
- Magnolia Press
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 1179-3155
- Description
- A treatment of the genus Geonoma, giving very detailed botanical descriptions and some information on habitat. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The leaves are harvested from the wild for local use as a source of thatch.
Known Hazards
The leaf stems have sharp margins and these often cut the hands of people collecting the leaves[
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.
].
Botanical References
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.
,
773- Title
- A Revision of Geonoma (Arecaceae)
- Publication
- Phytotaxa 17: 1 - 271
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Website
- http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/
- Publisher
- Magnolia Press
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 1179-3155
- Description
- A treatment of the genus Geonoma, giving very detailed botanical descriptions and some information on habitat. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
C. America - Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras.
Habitat
An understorey plant in lowland or premontane rainforest; on slopes or plains on well-drained soils; at elevations up to 900 metres[
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.
].
Properties
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 5.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The leaves are used for thatching[
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.
,
772- Title
- Journal of Ethnobiology Vol. 14
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Society of Ethnobiology; Mass.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
- 0278-0771
- Description
- A botanical publication, looking at the human uses of plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
