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Asterogyne martiana
| Family Name: | Arecaceae (Palmae) |
| Synonyms: | Geonoma martiana |
| Common Name: | Cortadera, Capoca, Pico |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Palm (Solitary Habit) |
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Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Central and Northwestern South America |
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| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A solitary trunk palm that can grow to 1.8 m – 2.5 m high and 3 - 5 cm diameter. Trunk is usually erect but sometimes creeping. |
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| Foliage | Mature Asterogyne martiana palms have 8 - 18 leaves, each leaf is 60 - 100 cm long and 20 – 30 cm wide, with the leaf tip deeply cleft into 2 large, pointed segments, resembling fish-tail. Leaves are emerald green above and a lighter shade beneath, with a darker coloured mid rib. New leaves are often rosy or copper coloured. The leaves are grooved longitudinally and may be split with age or damaged by the wind. The funnel shaped crown of leaves captures falling foliage debris from surrounding overhanging trees, which slowly decay and release nutrients for the palm. |
| Flowers | The inflorescence (50 – 80 cm long) is a spike of orange-brown flowers. |
| Fruit | The fruit is dark purplish and egg shaped (13 mm long). |
| Habitat | Found in understory of rain forest. |
| Cultivation | Fresh seeds take 45 days to germinate and the germination rate decrease as the seeds dry out. Asterogyne martiana cannot tolerate waterlogged soil and prefers rich compost. |
| Etymology | Asterogyne is greek for star and female, with reference to the star shape sterile stamens found in the female flowers. The species epithet honors the german botanist Carl F.P. von Martius, author of the magnificent ‘Historia Naturalis Palmarum’ |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: Asterogyne is a small genus consisting of five species in Central America and northern South America Asterogyne was published without a type species in the original description in 1883. The typification of the new genus was in 1885 by Wendland, with the transfer of Geonoma martiana to the genus Asterogyne. The type specimen was obtained from a plant cultivated at the gardens of Herrenhausen. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
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| Foliar Shape(s) | Palm Fronds (Simple) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Palm - Solitary) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Palm) | Solitary Habit, Aboveground |
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Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Brown, Orange |
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| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Purple |
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References
| References | Riffle, R.L., Craft, P. & Zona, S. . 2012. The Encyclopedia of cultivated palms. London: Timber Press. 517 Stauffer, F.W., Asmussen, C.B., Henderson, A. & Endress. P.K. 2003. A revision of Asterogyne (Arecaceae: Arecoideae: Geonomeae). Brittonia. 55. 4. 326 - 356 |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1302 |
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| Species ID | 2595 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |