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Chamaedorea cataractarum
| Family Name: | Arecaceae (Palmae) |
| Synonyms: | Chamaedorea martiana, Nunnezharia martiana, Nunnezharia flexuosa, Nunnezharia cataractarum, Chamaedorea atrovirens, Stephanostachys martiana, Chamaedorea flexuosa, Vadia atrovirens, Vadia jotolana, Encheila transversa, Stachyophorbe cataractarum |
| Common Name: | Cascade Palm, Cat Palm, Cataract Palm, Mexican Hat Palm, 缨络椰子 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Palm (Clustered Habit, Solitary Habit) |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 2 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 2.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Mexico |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A small, attractive, trunkless, relatively slow-growing, clumping palm with dense, glossy, cascading, dark green, pinnate (feather-shaped) fronds and long thin leaflets. It grows as a rheophyte (an aquatic plant that lives in fast moving water currents) along the margins of streams and rivers of Mexico. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Trunk absent. |
| Foliage | Fronds pinnate, upright to arching, dark green, up to 1m long; leaflets 30 to 50 per frond, about 30 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Flower: Inflorescences interfoliar (arising among the leaves), up to 50 cm long, green; flowers yellow; stalk of pollinated female flowers turn bright orange as seeds mature; stalk of male flowers wither after releasing pollen. Fruit: Fruits oviod, shiny, about 1 cm long and 0.8 cm wide, ripening from green to black, having a powdery bloom at maturity, single-seeded. |
| Cultivation | Prefers a lightly shaded, moist position with well-drained, organically rich soils. It can survive in full sun if plenty of water is given. Relatively slow growing. Propagate by seeds or dividing clumps. Seeds germinate in 2 to 4 months with bottom heat. Caution: Flesh should not be handled with bare hands as it contains calcium oxalate crystals and will cause skin irritation. |
| Etymology | The genus epithet 'Chamaedorea' comes from two Greek words 'chamai', 'on the ground', and 'dorea', 'a gift', in probable reference to the small stature of palms of this genus. Its genus epithet 'cataractarum' derives from the Latin, 'cataracta', which means 'pertaining to wet rocks and cataracts along water courses', in reference to its habitat. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.0 (Palm - Cluster) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Palm) | Clustering Habit, Aboveground |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
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Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1318 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2611 |
| 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. |
