Aiphanes gelatinosa

A rare, medium-sized palm to 9 m tall with slender, densely clustering stems and spreading crowns of lightly plumose, dark green leaves with narrow segments. The trunk and leafstalks are well armed with densely set spines. The red fruits are densely covered with a gelatinous substance. Aiphanes gelatinosa is native to montane rainforests between 800 and 1650 m in southern Colombia and northern Ecuador. In cultivation it is virtually unknown but will make a nice and quick growing ornamental for the tropical or warm temperate garden.