Aiphanes horrida

Aiphanes horrida (Jacq.) Burret, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 11: 575 1932. (Syn: Aiphanes caryotifolia (Kunth) H.Wendl.);

Images
by Aarti S Khale (Validation by Balkar Singh) & Raman Arunachalam (Id by Aarti S Khale) (Inserted by J.M.Garg) (For more images & complete details,
click on the links)

Aiphanes horrida is a palm native to northern South America and Trinidad and Tobago.

Aiphanes horrida is a solitary, spiny tree. In the wild it grows 3–10 metres tall (9–30 feet) tall with a stem diameter of 6–10 centimetres (2–4 inches); cultivated trees may be as much as 15 m (49′) tall with a 15 cm (6″) diameter.^[3] The epicarp and mesocarp of the fruit rich in carotene and are eaten in Colombia, while the seeds are used to make candles.^[4]

In parts of the Colombian Llanos endocarps are used to play games.^[3]

The range of the species is found in dry forests between sea level and 1700 m (5600′) above sea level in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, but is not native to Ecuador.^[4] The species is cultivated as an ornamental throughout the tropics.^[3]

Aiphanes horrida is commonly known by a variety of names including Cocos rura, Mararay, Corozo, Macagüita, Marará,^[4] Macahuite, Corozo del Orinoco, Corozo anchame, Mararava, Cubarro, Chonta, Chascaraza, Charascal, Corozo chiquito, Corozo colorado, Pujamo, Gualte, Chonta ruro,^[3] Pupunha xicaxica,^[6] Coyure palm, Ruffle palm, Aculeata palm^[7] and Spine palm.

(From Wikipedia on 12.6.13)

Ruffle Palm : Flower Show : 090811 : AK: Ruffle Palm as seen at the Flower Show, Jijamata Udyan, on 18 th & 19 th of Feb, 2011.

This was a small palm, probably a young plant.

This may be Aiphanes caryotifolia