View source for Phil Bendle Collection:Chamaedorea elegans (Parlour Palm)

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'''Kingdom:'''   Plantae<br />
'''(Unranked):'''        Angiosperms<br />
'''(Unranked):'''        Monocots<br />
'''(Unranked):'''        Commelinids<br />
'''Order:'''       Arecales<br />
'''Family:'''      Arecaceae<br />
'''Subfamily:''' Arecoideae<br />
'''Tribe:'''        Hyophorbeae<br />
'''Genus:'''      Chamaedorea<br />
'''Species:'''     C. elegans<br />
Binomial name: Chamaedorea elegans<br />
Synonyms: Parlour Palm, Collinia elegans, Neanthe Bella, .

Chamaedorea elegans a small palm tree native to the dense rainforests in Southern Mexico and Guatemala.<br />
It grows to 2–3 m tall palm with a spread of 1m.  It has a slender, cane-like stem.<br />
It is very slow growing and tolerats low levels of humidity and light, though it prefers medium to high humidity and bright indirect light.<br />
The lanceolate, green, alternate leaves are up to 20cm long.<br />
C. elegans flowers periodically throughout the year. The white flowers produce a 1.3cm round fleshy black fruit.

The inflorescences have a slightly bitter taste, and are considered a delicacy in El Salvador and Guatemala. They are usually eaten in salads, or covered in egg batter and fried. The latter dish is called &quot;rellenos de pacaya&quot;, and is often served with tomato sauce, like chilies rellenos.<br />
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Photographed at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.<br />
[[File:Chamaedorea elegans Parlour Palm -001.JPG|frameless|upright 2.25]]  

[[File:Chamaedorea elegans Parlour Palm -005.JPG|frameless|upright 2.25]]

The flower stalk.<br />
[[File:Chamaedorea elegans Parlour Palm .JPG|frameless|upright 2.25]]

The palms trunk.<br />
[[File:Chamaedorea elegans Parlour Palm -002.JPG|frameless|upright 2.25]]

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[[Category:Trees (Exotic)]]
[[Category:Phil Bendle Collection]]