Desmoncus
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Authority
Mori, S. A., et al. 1997. Guide to the vascular plants of central French Guiana: Part 1. Pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76: 1-422.
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Family
Arecaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
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Genus Description - Monoecious, climbing lianas of understory. Stem slender, elongate, flexuous. Leaves widely spaced along stem, distichous, pinnate, sheaths long, tubular, prolonged into a long ocrea, armed with short retrorse spines; rachis armed. Pinnae opposite, elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, the distal pairs transformed into retrorse hooks (acanthophylls) decreasing in size toward apex. Inflorescences interfoliar, 1-branched; peduncular bract armed with short, basally swollen spines; rachillae few, slender, bearing triads of one pistillate and two staminate flowers, the apical part bearing staminate flowers only. Fruits small, globose, smooth, red at maturity, 1-seeded.