Cryosophila
Cryosophila is a genus of medium-sized fan palms that range from central Mexico to northern Colombia. Species in the genus can be readily distinguished from related genera by their distinctive downward-pointing spines on the stem, which are actually modified roots. They are known as the "root spine palms".
Species
GENUS
- KingdomPlantae
- PhylumTracheophyta
- ClassLiliopsida
- OrderArecales
- FamilyArecaceae
Native toBelize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Panamá
via GBIF · Kew POWO
Article
6 sectionsContents
- Description
- Taxonomy
- History
- Species
- Distribution and status
- References
Cryosophila is a genus of medium-sized fan palms that range from central Mexico to northern Colombia. Species in the genus can be readily distinguished from related genera by their distinctive downward-pointing spines on the stem, which are actually modified roots. They are known as the "root spine palms".
==Description== Cryosophila is a genus of medium-sized, single-stemmed (or rarely multi-stemmed) palms with fan-shaped (or palmate) leaves and spiny stems. The stems range in height from , with diameters between . Plants have between five and 35 leaves with elongated petioles. The leaves are often whitish-grey on the lower surface. The whitish flowers are bisexual with six stamens and three carpels. The fruit are white and smooth, with a single seed.