Geonoma mooreana

Very rare species

An amazingly elegant small palm native to rainforests on the Atlantic slope in western Panama between about 100 and 1200 m (330 and 3900 ft.) with thin stems and beautiful, flat, slightly arching, very finely pinnate leaves with narrow leaflets that have very thin, lax tips. The new leaf unfolds in a pretty pink tone. The much branched inflorescence is red and carries small, round fruit which are black when ripe. It would make a splendid ornamental but is barely known in cultivation. It would be best suited to a protected spot in the tropical or warm temperate garden.