Cryosophila guagara

Cryosophila (kry-oh-soh-FEE-lah) guagara (goo-ahg-AHR-ah)
Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. Photo-Rare Palm Seeds.com
Scientific Classification
Genus: Cryosophila (kry-oh-soh-FEE-lah) Species: guagara (goo-ahg-AHR-ah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Costapalmate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Cryosophila guagara is endemic to the subcanopy of lowland rainforests, in coastal

Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.

southwestern Costa Rica and northern Panama, this palms habitat has been threatened by logging.

Description

It grows a slender, straight, brown trunk, that is usually less spiny than some of the other species in the genus. Medium sized, solitary, fan palm, with spines on the roots. The circular, costapalmate leaves are white underneath, which shows well, when the leaves are moving in a breeze. It can easily be told apart from other Cryosophila by its rather persistent, papery inflorescence bracts. Editing by edric.

Culture

Warm, sheltered and moist. It is rather rare in cultivation, but easy and relatively quick to grow, and a rewarding ornamental for the tropics.

Comments and Curiosities

Once common in the subcanopy of lowland rainforests in coastal southwestern Costa Rica and northern Panama, this palms habitat has been much reduced by logging. It grows a slender, straight, brown trunk that is usually less spiny than some of the other species in the genus. The circular, palmate leaves are white underneath, which shows well when the leaves are moving in a breeze. It can easily be told apart from other Cryosophila by its mostly persistent, papery inflorescence bracts. It is rather rare in cultivation but easy and relatively quick to grow and a rewarding ornamental for the tropics. (RPS.com)