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 leiostachys is a species of palm that is endemic to Colombia. Known from only a few forest fragments in the Cordillera Central, it is threatened by habitat loss and forest management practices. More