Arecaceae
Iriartea Ruiz & Pavón.
Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Genus Parent: Arecaceae Status: Valid
Vegetative Morphology
Habit: Palms up to 25 m tall. Solitary.
Main axis: The trunk with a very pronounced conspicuous swelling in the upper half subtending the leaves. The aerial roots to 2 m long, dense, lenticulate, black, the young ones appearing phallic.
Leaves: Leaves pinnate, the pinnae triangular and disorganized, the apex entire. The rachis to 3 m. Spathe (bract) to 1 m long in the form of a horn.
Reproductive Morphology
Fruit: The exocarp smoothly and veined or with small canals when mature, exposing the white, mealy mesocarp.
Infructescence: Infructescence to 1.5 m with abundant sessile fruit, black when mature.
Seeds: Seed one per fruit.
Other
Uses: The stem used in rural construction.
Distribution: Nicaragua to Bolivia, to 1500 m in elevation.