Chamaedorea tenella
Geoff Stein - Author & Editor
Common Name: none
Chamaedorea tenella is listed separately here because it simply seems too different from Chamaedorea geonomiformis to be included in that same species. The flowers are either unbranched, or short if branched (Veracruz form), or have 4-5 branches (Chiapas forms), but none look like the 'necklace, long inflorescences of Chamaedorea geonomiformis; the leaves are shorter or narrower, and these characteristics seem stable and consistent. These are wonderful, dainty but relatively durable understory, dwarf, bifid palms with two distinct leaf forms, one from Chiapas, Mexico and the other from Veracruz, Mexico. The Chiapas form is more like a small version of Chamaedorea geonomiformis with fairly flat, shiny bifid leaves, while the Veracruz palms have shorter, less shiny, curved bifid leaves. They are otherwise identical.
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Appearance and Biology
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Horticultural Characteristics
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all photos from the Whitelock garden, Los Angeles, unless otherwise indicated- Chiapas form
Chiapas form (long, narrow, thin, fairly flat leaves)
Chiapas form
Chiapas form
Chiapas form
many branched flowers of Chiapas form
flowers of Chiapas form
Veracruz form in Lotusland, Santa Barbara, California
Lotusland- Veracruz form
Veracruz form
Veracruz form
Veracruz form
Veracruz form
Veracruz form
Veracruz form
Veracruz forms- young, short plants
Veracruz forms- tall, older plants
San Diego, California, garden of Jim Wright
Veracruz forms
older palms (Veracruz forms)
Veracruz forms
Veracruz forms
Veracruz form showing short, branched inflorescences
typical spicate flower of Verucruz form
Verucruz form in fruit
mature fruits
