Wettinia hirsuta
Burret
Arecaceae
Common Name:
Plant growing in native habitat
Photograph by: B. Hammel
General Information
Wettinia hirsuta is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm growing 4 - 12 metres tall. The unbranched stem can be 8 - 11cm in diameter; it has stilt roots about 35cm long; and is topped by a crown of 5 - 7 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 plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of wood.
Much of the forest is fragmented in the middle Magdalena Valley because of encroaching agriculture, and the species has become scarce here. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
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 - Colombia.
Habitat
Lowland to montane rainforest, at elevations from 400 - 1,300 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
| Conservation Status | Endangered |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 8.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The outsides of the stems are hard. They are used in construction and for making fences[
347- Title
- Tropical Palms
- Publication
- Non-Wood Forest Products No. 10
- Author
- Johnson D.V.
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/docrep/
- Publisher
- FAO, Rome
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-92-5-106742-0
- Description
- A terse guide to some of the uses of palms. Also available for download from the web. (Search for "FAO Tropical Palms")
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
