Chamaedorea tepejilote

Chamaedorea tepejilote is a small shade- and cold-tolerant evergreen palm shrub belonging to the genus Chamaedorea in the family Arecaceae. It is native to Guatemala, Mexico, and Colombia, and its inflorescences are also edible.
It is also known by the common names pacaya or pacaya palm.
It grows naturally in the understory or forest floor of woodlands such as those surrounding the Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala.

Among the species in the Chamaedorea genus, Chamaedorea tepejilote has the tallest and thickest trunk, reaching a height of 2–7 meters and a diameter of 7–8 cm.
The green, ringed trunk bears white marks at the base of the leaves, resembling the culms of bamboo.
It is cultivated as a foliage plant, and its young shoots and inflorescences are eaten as vegetables.

Origin of the Name
The genus name Chamaedorea comes from the Greek words chamai (low-growing) and dorea (gift), meaning "small gift."
The species name tepejilote comes from the Nahuatl language, meaning "mountain corn."

Related Species in the Genus Chamaedorea
Chamaedorea tepejilote — Known as pacaya palm, with edible young shoots and inflorescences
Chamaedorea seifrizii — Clumping palm
Chamaedorea elegans — Table palm

Common name: Chamaedorea tepejilote
Scientific name: Chamaedorea tepejilote
Other names: Pacaya, pacaya palm
Classification: Plantae, Angiosperms, Monocots, Arecales, Arecaceae, Chamaedorea genus, species tepejilote
Native range: Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia (Central and South America)
Habitat: Forest understory and forest floor, such as the area around the Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala
Growth form: Shade- and cold-tolerant evergreen shrub
Trunk height: 2–7 m
Trunk diameter: 7–8 cm
Growth type: Solitary trunk
Internode length: 2–15 cm
Trunk features: Swollen nodes
Leaf sheath length: 20–40 cm
Petiole length: 10–30 cm
Leaves: Long, dark green bamboo-like leaves radiating from the crown
Number of leaves: 3–7
Leaf type: Pinnate
Flowers: Fragrant
Inflorescence length: 25–60 cm
Inflorescence shape: Clustered
Immature male inflorescence: Resembles a corn cob (edible)
Flower color: Greenish yellow
Flowering position: Just below the crown
Pistil color: Yellow-green
Male inflorescence: 2–5 clusters per node, with 7–50 flowering branches
Fruit shape: Oval
Fruit size: 1–1.5 cm in length, 0.8 cm in diameter
Fruit color: Green turning black when ripe
Uses: Ornamental plant, immature male inflorescences can be used in salads or tempura

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