Hyospathe elegans Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm. 2: 1 (1823)

Primary tabs

https://media.e-taxonomy.eu/palmae/photos/palm_tc_101301_1.jpg

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Bolivia present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Brazil North present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Colombia present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Costa Rica present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Ecuador present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
French Guiana present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Guyana present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Panamá present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Peru present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Suriname present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Venezuela present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Widespread in Central and South America, southward to Bolivia, in the understorey of closed-canopy forest. (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)A

Discussion

  • A variable species that includes several morphological types, differing in size, habit, stem development, and degree of dissection of the leaves. However, intermediate forms exist, linking these together (Skov & Balslev, 1989). (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)A

Description

  • Understorey palm. Stems clustered, erect or sometimes decumbent with age, to 5 m tall and 2-3 cm in diameter, smooth, with distant leaf scars. Leaves 50-200 cm long, simple or pinnately divided, with up to 25 unequal to nearly equal pinnae on each side; leaf sheath closed, green; petiole channeled above. Inflorescence borne below the leaves, erect, pink at anthesis, red in fruit, branched to one order; peduncle 2-15 cm long; rachis 1-16 cm long; branches to 50, as long as or longer than the rachis. Fruits black, oblong, ca. 10-15 mm long and 3-7 mm in diameter. (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)A

Use Record

  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: Avi-uso. Fruto. Techado. Hoja. Chuso. Tallo. Larguero. Tallo. Leña. Tallo. Palanca. Tallo. (Cerón, C.E., and C. Montalvo 2000: Reserva Biológica Limoncocha. Formaciones vegetales, Diversidad y Etnobotánica.)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionHousesStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    FuelFirewoodStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    Animal FoodWildlife attractantFruitsIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    Utensils and ToolsLabour toolsStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: Dental care (Hyospathe elegans). (...). The Sionas call it " Derechu eco" and chew its palm heart to protect their teeth from decaying. (Balslev, H., and A. Barfod 1987: Ecuadorean palms- an overview)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Medicinal and VeterinaryDental healthPalm heartIndigenousSionaEcuador
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: Hyospathe elegans Mart. Español: Ponilla, Saapap, Palmiche Usos: Medicinal y cosmético — La raíz es utilizada contra las náuseas, vómitos y dolores de la cabeza; las flores son buenas para dolores de estómago. Construcción — Las hojas son utilizadas en la construcción de los techos para las viviendas; a veces el tallo también en partes de techos (crisnejas). Herramientas y utensilios — Los tallos son utilizados como soporte (timbina) para instalar los mosquiteros; las hojas se pueden usar como flauta. Alimenticio — Ocasionalmente los frutos son consumidos. Comunidad: 3, 4, 7, 11–13, 16, 19, 24, 25, 27, 29. Voucher: H. Balslev 6548. (Balslev, H., C. Grandez, et al. 2008: Useful palms (Arecaceae) near Iquitos, Peruvian Amazon)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Medicinal and VeterinaryNot specifiedRootNot identifiedN/APeru
    ConstructionHousesStemNot identifiedN/APeru
    CulturalRecreationalEntire leafNot identifiedN/APeru
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafNot identifiedN/APeru
    Medicinal and VeterinaryDigestive systemRootNot identifiedN/APeru
    Medicinal and VeterinaryDigestive systemFlowerNot identifiedN/APeru
    Human FoodFoodFruitsNot identifiedN/APeru
    Utensils and ToolsDomesticStemNot identifiedN/APeru
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: Hyospathe elegans Mart. Vernacular names: Mengawe, omawe (adult). Voucher: Macía et al. #1199. Uses. CO: Leaves are used for thatch. HF: The stem is used for improvised hunting spears. (Macía, M.J. 2004: Multiplicity in palm uses by the Huaorani of Amazonian Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: Las hojas que no se abren (cogollo central) se usa la base (color blanco) para pintar los dientes de negro; también se pinta fibras para bolsos, las hojas se usa para techar viviendas; el tallo se usa como palanca de canoa y también como chuso para sacar animales de la madriguera. (Cerón, C.E., C.G. Montalvo, J. Umenda et al. 1994: Etnobotánica y notas sobre la diversidad vegetal en la comunidad Cofán de Sinangüé, Sucumbíos, Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    CulturalPersonal adornmentSpear leafIndigenousCofánEcuador
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemIndigenousCofánEcuador
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousCofánEcuador
    ConstructionTransportationStemIndigenousCofánEcuador
    CulturalDyesSpear leafIndigenousCofánEcuador
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: Leaves are used for thatch and as an umbrella substitute during rainstorms. (Bennett, B.C., M.A. Baker, and P. Gómez-Andrade 2002: Ethnobotany of the Shuar of Eastern Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Utensils and ToolsDomesticEntire leafIndigenousShuarEcuador
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousShuarEcuador
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: Leaves used for thatch. Stem surface scraped off and used as stuffing for cartridge. (Báez, S., and Å. Backevall 1998: Dictionary of plants used by the Shuar of Makuma and Mutints)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousShuarEcuador
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemIndigenousShuarEcuador
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: Los Uitoto utilizaban antiguamente el cogollo como " curadientes", masticandolo vigorosamente para prevenir la caries dental. Los miraña utilizan el cogollo mezclado con la raíz del asaí ( Euterpe precatoria), para curar la gripa. (Galeano, G. 1992: Las palmas de la región de Araracuara)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Medicinal and VeterinaryRespiratory systemPalm heartIndigenousMirañaColombia
    Medicinal and VeterinaryDental healthPalm heartIndigenousHuitotoColombia
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: Secoya indians in NE Ecuador and the Huitoto tribe in Colombia chew the palm heart which blacken their teeth. This is done for cosmetic reasons, (…). (…). Peruvian indians masticate new leaf growth to clean the teeth. In (…) Peru the stems are sharpened and used as spears. In Peru the leaves are used for thatch. (Skov, F., and H. Balslev 1989: A revision of Hyospathe (Arecaceae))
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    CulturalCosmeticsPalm heartIndigenousSecoyaEcuador
    CulturalCosmeticsEntire leafIndigenousNot specifiedColombia
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafNot identifiedN/APeru
    CulturalCosmeticsPalm heartIndigenousHuitotoColombia
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemNot identifiedN/APeru
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: Thatch (1) (Byg, A. and H. Balslev 2004: Factors affecting local knowledge of palms in Nangaritza valley, Southeastern Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafNot identifiedN/AEcuador
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: The leaves are reducted to ashes and they are leached with cool water; the liquid, when evaporated, leaves a white or gray solid which is added as an alckaline admixture to ambíl a syrup prepared form Nicotiana tabacum (cf. Nicotiana). The Siona-Secoyas value this palm for odontological purposes. (Schultes, R.E., and R.F. Raffauf 1990: The healing forest- Medicinal and toxic plants of the Northwest Amazonia)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    CulturalRecreationalEntire leafIndigenousNot specifiedColombia
    Medicinal and VeterinaryDental healthNot specifiedIndigenousSiona-SecoyaColombia
  • Hyospathe elegans Mart.: The small cupula present on the rachillae when the fruits have fallen is used as a spear in animal hunting. Leaves are used for thatch; they are considered better than those of "Conambo" (=Attalea butyracea) and as good as "turuji" (= Geonoma interrupta). (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingInfructescenceIndigenousQuichuaEcuador
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousAchuarEcuador
  • Hyospathe tessmannii Burret: La naturaleza de los materiales empleados para la cubierta del techo varía (...). En el hábitat interfluvial se utilizan dos variedades muy similares de palmera, kampanak (Hyospatha sp.) y turuji (Hyospatha tessmannii); (...). (Descola, P. 1989: La selva culta- Simbolismo y praxis en la ecología de los Achuar (as Hyospathe tessmannii Burret))

Bibliography

    A. Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae