Manicaria

Manicaria (Common names Monkey Cap Palm or Bussu) is a palm genus which is found in Trinidad, Central and South America. It contains two accepted species: Manicaria martiana Burret – Colombia, northwestern Brazil Manicaria saccifera Gaertn. – Central America, Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, northwestern Brazil It has one of the largest known leaves in the plant kingdom, up to 8 metres (26 ft) long. The very largest leaves can be 10.3 m (34 ft) total length, with 9 m (30 ft) being the blade or lamina and a stalk or petiole 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) long. The blade is up to 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) wide. It is an entire obovate pinnately veined leaf with marginal teeth. Manicaria thrives in swamps or estuarine areas where river meets ocean. In the Tortuguero region of Costa Rica, where Manicaria saccifera is plentiful, local people know this palm as "Palma Real", or "Royal Palm". Its heavy, large leaves are valued over other palm species as the best material for roof thatching. Manica......read more on Wikipedia.