Lepidocaryum tenue
Mart.
Arecaceae
Mauritia tenuis (Mart.) Spruce
Common Name:
Plant growing in native habitat in Peru
Photograph by: Andrew J. Henderson'
Image credit to Palmweb
Plant growing in native habitat in Peru
Photograph by: Andrew J. Henderson'
Image credit to Palmweb
Roof thatched with the leaves of this plant
Photograph by: John Dransfield
Image credit to Palmweb
Details of the thatch
Photograph by: John Dransfield
Image credit to Palmweb
Growing in native habitat
Photograph by: Andrew J. Henderson'
Image credit to Palmweb
Making the thatch
Photograph by: John Dransfield
Image credit to Palmweb
The thatched roof from inside
Photograph by: John Dransfield
Image credit to Palmweb
Developing fruits
Photograph by: John Dransfield
Image credit to Palmweb
Cultivated plant in Thailand
Photograph by: scott.zona
General Information
Lepidocaryum tenue is an evergreen palm, producing a cluster of stems and growing 1 - 4 metres tall. The clusters can be quite large, being produced from an underground rhizome. The unbranched stems can be 15 - 30mm in diameter; they are topped with a crown of 8 - 20 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.
].
The leaves are an important local thatching material, especially in Peru, and the plant is commonly harvested from the wild.
Known Hazards
None known
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.
Range
S. America - northern Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana.
Habitat
An understorey plant, found on both well-drained and seasonally inundated soils and also in inundated white sand soils; at low elevations[
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.
]. The plant can form extensive colonies by means of its underground rhizomes[
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 | 3.00 m |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
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.
].
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.
].
The stems are used in basket making.
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
