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The ethnobotany ofCarludovica palmata Ruíz & Pavón (Cyclanthaceae) in Amazonian Ecuador

Economic Botany volume 46, pages 233–240 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

All of Ecuador’s indigenous Amazonian people use Carludovica palmata Ruíz & Pavón. The most frequent use is for roof thatching. Fibers from the petiole also are used to make baskets and to tie small timbers. The Shuar, Achuar and Quichua make mammal and fish traps from the petiole. The bases of unopened leaf buds and the fruits are edible. The buds have a taste similar to palm hearts. Carludovica palmata grows in open, disturbed sites often in alluvial soil. Ecuador’s indigenous people often protect the plant when clearing fields. They also intentionally plant it. The commercial use of its buds for food and the marketing of native crafts made from C. palmata could rival the plant’s importance in the Panama hat industry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Economic Botany, 10458-5126, Bronx, New York

    B. C. Bennett

  2. Ecociencia: Fundación Ecuatoriana de Estudios Ecológicos, Quito, Ecuador

    R. Alarcón

  3. Departamento de Biologia, Universidad Central, Quito, Ecuador

    C. Cerón

Authors
  1. B. C. Bennett
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  2. R. Alarcón
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  3. C. Cerón
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Bennett, B.C., Alarcón, R. & Cerón, C. The ethnobotany ofCarludovica palmata Ruíz & Pavón (Cyclanthaceae) in Amazonian Ecuador. Econ Bot 46, 233–240 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02866622

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02866622

Key Words

  • palm leaf buds
  • Panama hat palm
  • Quichua ethnobotany
  • Shuar ethnobotany
  • thatching