Commemorating Charles IV of Spain and his Queen Louisa.

Tall, erect more or less stemless perennial herbs. Leaves fan-shaped, pleated and deeply cut, the tips drooping. Male and female flowers alternating in a spiral along the cylindrical to ellipsoid spadix with 3-4 petal-like spathes. Male flowers large and fleshy. Female flowers coherent.

Grown in warmer regions for the ornamental palm-like fan-shaped leaves and colourful fruits.

Division or cleaned seed.

Source of fibre; the young bleached leaves are used in Ecuador for making Panama hats, the older leaves for baskets, brooms and mats.

Leaves fan-shaped and pleated.

4 species from tropical Central and South America.

Source: Spencer, R. (2005). Cyclanthaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.