Socratea exorrhiza
(Mart.) H.Wendl.
Arecaceae
Iriartea durissima Oerst.
Iriartea exorrhiza Mart.
Iriartea orbignyana Blume ex Mart.
Iriartea philonotia Barb.Rodr.
Socratea albolineata Steyerm.
Socratea durissima (Oerst.) H.Wendl.
Socratea elegans H.Karst.
Socratea gracilis Burret
Socratea hoppii Burret
Socratea macrochlamys Burret
Socratea orbignyana (Blume ex Mart.) H.Karst.
Socratea philonotia (Barb.Rodr.) Hook.f.
Common Name: Cashapona
General Information
Cashapona is a fast-growing, single-stemmed, evergreen palm tree growing from 8 - 25 metres tall[
369- Title
- Flora of Costa Rica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
]. The unbranched stem can be 12 - 18cm in diameter; it has stilt-like aerial roots near the base that can be up to 3 metres long; and is topped by a crown of about 7 leaves that can be 1.5 - 2 metres long[
,
369- Title
- Flora of Costa Rica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download 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.
].
The tree is often used locally, harvested from the wild for food, construction materials and medicine.
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 - Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas and north through Central America to Nicaragua.
Habitat
Rainforest[
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.
]. A common species in non-flooded fields and fallows[
]. Lowland to premontane rain forest, at elevations from sea level to 1,000 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
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 20.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Pollinators | Beetles |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Requires a warm, sheltered and very, very humid site[
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.
].
The tree grows quickly[
].
Edible Uses
Young apical buds - cooked as a vegetable[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. A good flavour[
369- Title
- Flora of Costa Rica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
]. Eating the apical bud leads to the death of the tree since it is unable to make new growth or side branches[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
The inner part of the stilt roots is used as a male aphrodisiac[
].
The stem is used to make a plaster to cicatrize the umbilical cord of newborn infants[
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
].
A decoction of the leaves is used to wash the penis for treating gonorrhoea[
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
].
Smoke from the burned fruit is used for remedying gonorrhoea and urinary diseases[
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
].
A decoction of the seeds is used to wash the penis for treating gonorrhoea[
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
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The tree grows quickly, has a very small, light canopy, and develops well from naturally dispersed and discarded or thrown-out seeds. Maintenance is minimal, and it grows well with almost any crop[
].
Other Uses
The stems are used for thatching[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
The seeds are used as beads for making necklaces etc[
520- Title
- Botanical Beads
- Publication
-
- Author
- Smith R.J.
- Website
- http://www.botanicalbeads.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A website looking at seeds that are used for ornament. It is based on a book that the author had written.
].
The outside of the wood is hard and durable, although the inside is soft and pithy[
369- Title
- Flora of Costa Rica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download 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.
]. The plant has an important local role in construction - the trunk is used in the construction of houses and other structures, posts, fences, palisades etc[
,
369- Title
- Flora of Costa Rica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Website
- http://www.archive.org/
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
- Year
- 1938
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
,
476- Title
- Handbook of S. American Indians.
- Publication
- Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 143
- Author
- Steward J. H. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- US Government Printing Office; Washington
- Year
- 1946 - 1950
- ISBN
-
- Description
- In six volumes, a detailed look at the native peoples of S. America - their culture, lifestyle, use of plants etc,
]. It is usually split length-wise before it is used, but it can also be hollowed out and used a tube[
]. The gigantic trumpets of the Uaupes River Indians are made of sections of this palm, wrapped with long strips of Epema grandiflora[
476- Title
- Handbook of S. American Indians.
- Publication
- Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 143
- Author
- Steward J. H. (Editor)
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- US Government Printing Office; Washington
- Year
- 1946 - 1950
- ISBN
-
- Description
- In six volumes, a detailed look at the native peoples of S. America - their culture, lifestyle, use of plants etc,
].
Propagation
Seed - must be sown fresh for it to germinate[
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.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
