Carludovica
Carludovica is a genus in the family Cyclanthaceae. It is native to tropical America, from southern Mexico and Guatemala to Ecuador and Bolivia. Carludovica is named in honor of Charles IV of Spain and his wife Maria Luisa of Parma.
Cultivation and uses
The genus is probably best known for Carludovica palmata, the young leaves of which are made into Panama hats.An unidentified species belonging to this family has been marketed as a houseplant in the United States under the name "Jungle Drum".
Lists of species
According to Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, there are four speciesCarludovica drudei Mast. - Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela Carludovica palmata Ruiz & Pav. - widespread from Tabasco to BoliviaCarludovica rotundifolia Schaedtler - Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, PanamaCarludovica sulcata Hammel - Nicaragua, Costa RicaTropicos lists more species but it may contain potential synonyms:C. divergens C. gigantea C. incisa
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