''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and

Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...

in the north to Paraguay in the south; two are found in the Lesser Antilles.

Uses

In South America, the leaves of species such as ''

Geonoma deversa ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in the ...

'', ''

Geonoma orbignyana ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in the ...

'', and ''

Geonoma macrostachys ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in the ...

'' are economically important for their use in thatching roofs.

Taxonomy

The genus is a member of the palm tribe Geonomateae (

Arecaceae The Arecaceae is a family of perennial flowering plants in the monocot order Arecales. Their growth form can be climbers, shrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly known as palms. Those having a tree-like form are called palm trees ...

Arecoideae The Arecaceae is a family of perennial flowering plants in the monocot order Arecales. Their growth form can be climbers, shrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly known as palms. Those having a tree-like form are called palm trees ...

), an important

Neotropic The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone. Definition In bioge ...

al group due to its wide distribution across Central and South America, its diversity and abundance, and the use of a number of species by local human populations. The distribution of the tribe Geonomeae stretches from southeast Mexico down through Central America and into South America, notably Brazil and

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, and species are also found in the Greater and Lesser Antilles. This tribe consists of a group of understory and sub-canopy palms that populate both tropical lowland and montane forests. While members of this group are relatively easy to collect, as they are not canopy palms or spiny palms, and are well represented in herbaria, the taxonomy and phylogeny of the species within the tribe are still uncertain. The resolution of the tribe has been disputed despite the fact that Geonomateae species are characterized by three morphological

synapomorphies In phylogenetics, an apomorphy (or derived trait) is a novel character or character state that has evolved from its ancestral form (or plesiomorphy). A synapomorphy is an apomorphy shared by two or more taxa and is therefore hypothesized to have ...

: the petals of pistillate flowers are basally connate, the presence of slender and elongate styles, and the flowers are borne in pits in the rachillae.

Species

The following species are currently recognized: * ''

Geonoma appuniana ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in the ...

Spruce A spruce is a tree of the genus ''Picea'' (), a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal (taiga) regions of the Earth. ''Picea'' is the sole genus in the subfami ...

* ''

Geonoma arundinacea ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in the ...

Mart. Carl Friedrich Philipp (Karl Friedrich Philipp) von Martius (17 April 1794 – 13 December 1868) was a German botanist and explorer. Life Martius was born at Erlangen, the son of Prof Ernst Wilhelm Martius, court apothecary. He graduated PhD f ...

* ''

Geonoma aspidiifolia ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in the ...

* '' Geonoma atrovirens'' Borchs. & Balslev * ''

Geonoma baculifera ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' (

Poit. Pierre-Antoine Poiteau (23 March 1766 Âmbleny – 27 February 1854) was a French botanist, gardener and botanical artist. Biography He was born in Ambleny, France. After having worked in kitchen gardens and for the Parisian market gardeners, ...

) Kunth * ''

Geonoma brenesii ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' Grayum * '' Geonoma brevispatha'' Barb.Rodr. * '' Geonoma brongniartii''

* '' Geonoma camana'' Trail * '' Geonoma chlamydostachys'' Galeano-Garcés * ''

Geonoma chococola ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' Wess.Boer * ''

Geonoma concinna ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

Burret Burret () is a commune in the Ariège department of southwestern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in t ...

* ''

Geonoma congesta ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

H.Wendl. Hermann Wendland (October 11, 1825 in Herrenhausen – January 12, 1903 in Hanover) was a German botanist and gardener. He was a noted authority on the family Arecaceae (palms), on which he published a major monograph which formed the basis for t ...

* ''

Geonoma cuneata ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

* '' Geonoma densa'' Linden &

* ''

'' (

) Kunth * ''

Geonoma divisa ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' H.E.Moore * ''

Geonoma epetiolata ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' H.E.Moore * ''

Geonoma ferruginea ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

* ''

Geonoma frontinensis ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' * '' Geonoma gamiova'' Barb.Rodr. * '' Geonoma gastoniana'' Glaz. ex Drude * ''

Geonoma hoffmanniana ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

* ''

Geonoma hugonis ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' Grayum & Nevers * ''

Geonoma interrupta ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' (

Ruiz The Spanish surname Ruiz originates from the Germanic personal name " Hrodric" which is composed of the elements "Hrōd", meaning "renown", and "rīc", meaning "power(ful)", thus "famous ruler". Ruiz is a patronymic from the personal name Ruy, a sh ...

& Pav.)

* '' Geonoma irena'' Borchs. * ''

Geonoma jussieuana ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

in A.D.d'Orbigny * '' Geonoma laxiflora''

* ''

Geonoma leptospadix ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' Trail * '' Geonoma linearis''

* ''

Geonoma longipedunculata ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

* '' Geonoma longivaginata''

* ''

Geonoma maxima ''Geonoma maxima'' is a species of palm tree native to South America. References maxima Trees of Peru Trees of Colombia Trees of Brazil Trees of Venezuela Trees of Ecuador Trees of Suriname Trees of French Guiana Trees of Guyana ...

'' (

)

* ''

Geonoma monospatha ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' de Nevers * ''

Geonoma mooreana ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' de Nevers & Grayum * ''

Geonoma myriantha ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' Dammer * ''

Geonoma oldemanii ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

Granv. Jean-Jacques Douzal de Granville (5 August 1943 – 13 December 2022) was a French and French Guianan botanist, museum curator, and researcher. Granville specialized in the study of the palm trees and other flora of French Guiana, including f ...

* '' Geonoma oligoclona'' Trail * ''

in A.D.d'Orbigny * ''

Geonoma paradoxa ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

* ''

Geonoma paraguanensis ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

H.Karst. Gustav Karl Wilhelm Hermann Karsten (6 November 1817, in Stralsund – 10 July 1908, in Zoppot) was a German botanist and geologist. Born in Stralsund, he followed the example of Alexander von Humboldt and traveled 1844-56 the northern part of So ...

* ''

Geonoma pauciflora ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

* ''

Geonoma poeppigiana ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

in A.D.d'Orbigny * ''

Geonoma pohliana ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

* '' Geonoma polyandra'' Skov * ''

Geonoma polyneura ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

* ''

Geonoma rubescens ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

ex Drude * ''

Geonoma santanderensis ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' Galeano & R.Bernal * ''

Geonoma schottiana ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in t ...

* ''

Geonoma scoparia ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' Grayum & Nevers * '' Geonoma seleri''

* '' Geonoma simplicifrons''

Willd. Carl Ludwig Willdenow (22 August 1765 – 10 July 1812) was a German botanist, pharmacist, and plant taxonomist. He is considered one of the founders of phytogeography, the study of the geographic distribution of plants. Willdenow was also ...

* ''

Geonoma spinescens ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

* ''

Geonoma stricta ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' (

) Kunth * '' Geonoma supracostata'' Svenning * '' Geonoma talamancana'' Grayum * ''

Geonoma tenuissima ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' H.E.Moore * ''

Geonoma triandra ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' (

) Wess.Boer * ''

Geonoma triglochin ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

* ''

Geonoma trigona ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'' (

& Pav.) A.H.Gentry * '' Geonoma umbraculiformis'' Wess.Boer * ''

Geonoma undata ''Geonoma undata'' is a species of medium-sized palm tree native to North and South America. It grows in the understory of tropical forests at high altitudes. This species has highly variable traits depending on its geographic location and sever ...

Klotzsch Johann Friedrich Klotzsch (9 June 1805 – 5 November 1860) was a German pharmacist and botanist. His principal work was in the field of mycology, with the study and description of many species of mushroom. Klotzsch was born in Wittenberg. Origin ...

* ''

Geonoma weberbaueri ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in t ...

'' Dammer ex

* ''

Geonoma wilsonii ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in t ...

'' Galeano & R.Bernal

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q142256 Trees of the Caribbean Trees of Central America Trees of South America Arecaceae genera