Genus Aiphanes
Aiphanes is a genus of spiny palms which is native to tropical regions of South and Central America and the Caribbean.Species in the genus Aiphanes of plants
Aiphanes chiribogensis - Aiphanes chiribogensis is a small palm up to 3 metres tall with stems 3–6 centimetres in diameter which are "fiercely armed" with black spines up to 6 cm long. Stems grow singly, not in clonal clusters. Individuals have between 5 and 9 leaves which consists of a leaf sheath, a petiole and a rachis. Leaf sheaths, which wrap around the stem, are 20 to 40 cm long. They are violet on the inside, brown, scaly and covered with black or brown spines on the outside. Petioles are green, 12 to 45 cm long, and are covered with scattered spines. Rachises are green, 48 to 100 cm , and lack spines. Leaves each bear 12 to 17 pairs of leaflets.
Aiphanes duquei - Aiphanes duquei is a small palm up to 5 metres tall with stems about 5 centimetres in diameter which are covered with black spines up to 15 cm long. Stems grow singly, not in clonal clusters. Individuals have between 8 and 9 leaves which consists of a leaf sheath, a petiole and a rachis. Leaf sheaths, which wrap around the stem, are 72 cm long. Petioles are yellow to brown, 4 to 25 cm long, and are covered with spines up to 10 cm long. Rachises are 91 to 110 cm , and scattered spines up to 3 cm long. Leaves each bear 23 to 35 pairs of leaflets.
Aiphanes leiostachys - Aiphanes lindeniana is a small palm 3.5 to 5 metres tall with stems about 3 centimetres in diameter, which are sparsely covered with slender spines up to 3 cm long. Individuals are usually multi-stemmed, with up to 10 stems, but occasionally are single-stemmed. Stems bear about 11 leaves which consists of a leaf sheath, a petiole and a rachis. Leaf sheaths, which wrap around the stem, are 18 cm long and are densely covered with black spines up to 1 cm long. Petioles are green, 14 to 16 cm long, and are covered with spines up to 5 cm long. Rachises are 102 to 108 cm and covered with spines. Leaves each bear 17 to 20 pairs of leaflets which are arranged in three vertical rows.
Aiphanes lindeniana - Aiphanes lindeniana is a species of palm that is endemic to Colombia. Although widespread in the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central, it is threatened by habitat loss and forest management practices.