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Ecuadorean Ivory Palm

Phytelephas aequatorialis

Photo by J.S. Geiger
Published on Project Noah
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-1.03775, -77.5319

Field Notes

Description:

Specimen cultivated in a rural village. Older fronds stripped for use in roofing and animal traps. Several large of fruits at the base contained dozens of immature seeds.

Habitat:

Rainforest habitat. Specimen located in village near Rio Blanco.

Notes:

Also known as the Tagua Palm, this species is famous for the carvings of it's mature seeds. Marketed as "vegetable ivory", the seeds are commonly used for decorative carvings, jewelry, and shirt buttons.

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Photographed
PublishedMarch 25, 2016

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