Trunk to 25 m tall and 20 cm wide, grey, prominently ringed. Leaves green to glaucous, in a rounded crown, about 1.5 m across, divided for about two-thirds their length, usually into groups of 2 or 3 leaflets nearly fully united, the tips strongly drooping. Panicles erect or arching, longer than the leaves. Fruit round to pear-shaped, about 1 cm wide, black.

Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Central & South America, Trinidad

Occurs naturally in rainforest and regrowth, often on limestone.

Usually grown in the tropics but occasionally in warm temperate zones.

Very distinctive fan palm with a slender ringed trunk; deeply divided leaves with drooping leaflets; erect to arching panicles extending beyond the leaves; small round to pear-shaped fruit.

NSW: Sydney (Royal Botanic Garden Sydney).

Source: Jones, D; Spencer, R. (2005). Arecaceae. 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.