| Prestoea acuminata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Stand of Prestoea acuminata var. montana | |
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Prestoea |
| Species: | P. acuminata |
| Binomial name | |
| Prestoea acuminata (Willd.) H.E.Moore | |
Prestoea acuminata is a species of palm tree native to Central America, the West Indies and South America.
It was formerly widely harvested in Ecuador for palmito. However, the palm is now uncommon due to overharvesting and is no longer commercially harvested on a large scale.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are accepted:
- Prestoea acuminata var. acuminata – Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago.
- Prestoea acuminata var. dasystachys (Burret) A.J.Hend. & Galeano – Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.
- Prestoea acuminata var. montana (Graham) A.J.Hend. & Galeano – Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago.
References
- Barstow, M. 2023. Prestoea acuminata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023: e.T67556324A67556327. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T67556324A67556327.en. Accessed on 03 January 2024.
- Grandtner, M. M.; Chevrette, Julien (2013). Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press. p. 532. ISBN 9780123969545.
- Henderson, Andrew; Galeano, Gloria; Bernal, Rodrigo (1995). Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas. Princeton University Press. p. 126. ISBN 9780691197708.
- Brokamp, Grischa (2015). Relevance and Sustainability of Wild Plant Collection in NW South America: Insights from the Plant Families Arecaceae and Krameriaceae. Wiesbaden: Springer Spektrum. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-08696-1. ISBN 978-3-658-08695-4.
- Prestoea acuminata (Willd.) H.E.Moore. Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 29 January 2023.
- Prestoea acuminata var. acuminata. Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 29 January 2023.
- Prestoea acuminata var. dasystachys (Burret) A.J.Hend. & Galeano. Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 29 January 2023.
- Prestoea acuminata var. montana (Graham) A.J.Hend. & Galeano. Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 29 January 2023.