Aiphanes horrida (Devil Palm)

This very different dwarf palm from South America, has attractive spines all over it and fabulous, gracefully arching leaves, covered with white powder, with long, wavy, closely- spaced leaflets. The fragrant flowers produce clusters of red fruit making it ideal for conservatory or a warmer garden where it can actually stand occasional, but not hard freezing.

A solitary, showy spiny small tree. In the wild it grows 9-15 feet tall with a stem diameter of 2-4 inches. The epicarp and mesocarp of the fruit are rich in carotene and are eaten in Colombia, while the seeds are used to make candles.

The range of the species is found in forests of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The species is cultivated as an ornamental throughout the tropics.

Also known as Devil Palm, Corozo, Cocos rura, Mararay, Corozo, Macaguita, Marara, Macahuite, Corozo del Orinoco, Corozo anchame, Mararava, Cubarro, Chonta, Chascaraza, Charascal, Corozo chiquito, Corozo colorado, Pujamo, Gualte, Chonta ruro, Pupunha xicaxica, Coyure palm, Ruffle palm, Aculeata palm and Spine palm.

Scientific Synonyms - Caryota horrida, Aiphanes aculeata, Euterpe aculeata, Martinezia aculeata, Martinezia caryotifolia, Marara caryotifolia, Aiphanes caryotifolia, Tilmia caryotifolia, Bactris premorsa, Aiphanes premorsa, Martinezia truncata, Aiphanes truncata, Martinezia elegans, Aiphanes elegans, Marara bicuspidata, Martinezia ernestii, Aiphanes ernestii, Martinezia killipii, Aiphanes killipii, Aiphanes orinocensis.