Phytelephas
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Phytelephas (Ivory Palm) is a genus of five species of palms, native to tropical South America. The genus name means 'plant elephant', which refers to the very hard, white seed endospem, which resembles (and can be used as a substitute for) elephant ivory.
They are medium-sized to tall palms reaching up to 20 m tall, with pinnate leaves.
- Selected species
- Phytelephas aequatorialis Spruce. Ecuador.
- Phytelephas macrocarpa Ruiz & Pav. Brazil, Bolivia, Peru.
- Phytelephas seemannii O.F.Cook. Colombia, Panama.
- Phytelephas tenuicaulis (Barfod) A.J.Hend. Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.
- Phytelephas tumacana O.F.Cook. Colombia.
