The Chilean Palm (post 8)

My favorite Chilean tree is the Chilean Palm; his scientific name is Jubaea chilensi. This tree, it is not a real tree, it is a palm tree, that mean the jubaea chilensis doesn’t have a real log with hardwood, the Chilean palm have a stipites, which is a stem made with the remains of the deciduous leaves base of the palm.

The Chilean palm is native to southwestern South America, where it is endemic to a small area of ​​central Chile, corresponding to the Region of Coquimbo, Region of Valparaiso, where it is most abundant, Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Region of O'Higgins and in the province of Curicó.

Unfortunately this specie is danger of extinction; this is because the high demand of products that the Chilean palm provides for example the leaves can be used to sweep the streets and parks, his fruits usually called “coquitos” are a gourmet treat for some people, even the sap of the palm its commercials as “miel de palma”. That reasons are why this Endemic plant of Chile it’s so vulnerable and why we have to take care of it.