Desmoncus polyacanthos, the jacitara palm,[4] is a spiny, climbing palm native to the southern Caribbean and tropical South America. Stems grow clustered together, and are 2–12 m long and 0.5–2 cm in diameter. Petioles, rachis, cirrus and peduncular bracts are covered with short, curved spines.[5] Two varieties are recognised: D. polyacanthos var. polyacanthos[2] and D. polyacanthos var. prunifer (Poepp. ex Mart.) A.J.Hend.[3]
Desmoncus polyacanthos is found in Colombia, Venezuela, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru.[1][5] The stems are used for baskets and sieves.[5]
References
- ^ a b “Desmoncus polyacanthos“. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b “Desmoncus polyacanthos var. polyacanthos“. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Archived from the original on October 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ^ a b “Desmoncus polyacanthos var. prunifer“. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ^ “Properties of an Amazonian vegetable fiber as a potential reinforcing material”. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
- ^ a b c Henderson, Andrew; Gloria Galeano; Rodrigo Bernal (1995). Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-08537-4.