Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 18, 2026

Desmoncus polyacanthos

Desmoncus polyacanthos, the jacitara palm, is a spiny, climbing palm native to the southern Caribbean and tropical South America. Stems grow clustered together, and are 2–12 m long and 0.5–2 cm in diameter. Petioles, rachis, cirrus and peduncular bracts are covered with short, curved spines. Two varieties are recognised: D. polyacanthos var. polyacanthos and D. polyacanthos var. prunifer A.J.Hend.

Last revised
Jun 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
396 w
Citations
10
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Desmoncus polyacanthos
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Desmoncus
Species:
D. polyacanthos
Binomial name
Desmoncus polyacanthos
Synonyms

Atitara polyacantha (Mart.) Kuntze1

  • of var. polyacanthos2

Desmoncus macroacanthos Mart.
Desmoncus oxyacanthos Mart.
Desmoncus pycnacanthos Mart.
Desmoncus setosus Mart.
Desmoncus riparius Spruce
Desmoncus oligacanthus Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus aereus Drude
Desmoncus leptoclonos Drude
Desmoncus phengophyllus Drude
Desmoncus polyacanthos var. cuspidatus Drude
Desmoncus polyacanthos var. oxyacanthos (Mart.) Drude
Desmoncus pycnacanthos var. sarmentosus Drude
Desmoncus caespitosus Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus philippianus Barb.Rodr.
Atitara dubia Kuntze
Atitara macroacantha (Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara oligacantha (Barb.Rodr.) Kuntze
Atitara oxyacantha (Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara phengophylla (Drude) Kuntze
Atitara pycnacantha (Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara riparia (Spruce) Kuntze
Atitara setosa (Mart.) Kuntze
Desmoncus inermis Barb.Rodr.
Atitara aerea (Drude) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara caespitosa (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara inermis (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara leptoclona (Drude) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara paraensis Barb.Rodr.
Atitara philippiana (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus paraensis (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus ulei Dammer
Desmoncus brevisectus Burret
Desmoncus campylacanthus Burret
Desmoncus dasyacanthus Burret
Desmoncus latisectus Burret
Desmoncus longisectus Burret
Desmoncus prestoei L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus peraltus L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus maguirei L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus mirandanus L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus duidensis Steyerm.

  • of var. prunifer3

Desmoncus prunifer Poepp. ex Mart.
Atitara prunifera (Poepp. ex Mart.) Kuntze

Desmoncus polyacanthos, the jacitara palm,4 is a spiny, climbing palm native to the southern Caribbean and tropical South America. Stems grow clustered together, and are 2–12 m long and 0.5–2 cm in diameter. Petioles, rachis, cirrus and peduncular bracts are covered with short, curved spines.5 Two varieties are recognised: D. polyacanthos var. polyacanthos2 and D. polyacanthos var. prunifer (Poepp. ex Mart.) A.J.Hend.3

Desmoncus polyacanthos is found in Colombia, Venezuela, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru.15 The stems are used for baskets and sieves.5

References

References

  1. "Desmoncus polyacanthos". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. "Desmoncus polyacanthos var. polyacanthos". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Archived from the original on October 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  3. "Desmoncus polyacanthos var. prunifer". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  4. "Properties of an Amazonian vegetable fiber as a potential reinforcing material". Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  5. Henderson, Andrew; Gloria Galeano; Rodrigo Bernal (1995). Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-08537-4.