Carludovica is a genus in the family Cyclanthaceae. It is native to tropical America, from southern Mexico and Guatemala to Ecuador and Bolivia.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Carludovica is named in honor of Charles IV of Spain and his wife Maria Luisa of Parma.Genaust, Helmut (1976). Etymologisches Wörterbuch der botanischen Pflanzennamen Harling, G. (1958) "Monograph of the Cyclanthaceae" Acta Horti Berg. 18 : 128–131.
Cultivation and uses
The genus is probably best known for Carludovica palmata (toquilla), the young leaves of which are made into Panama hats.
An unidentified species belonging to this family (possibly a Carludovica species) has been marketed as a houseplant in the United States under the name "Jungle Drum".
Lists of species According to Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, there are four species Carludovica drudei Mast. - Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela Carludovica palmata Ruiz & Pav. - widespread from Tabasco to Bolivia Carludovica rotundifolia Schaedtler - Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama Carludovica sulcata Hammel - Nicaragua, Costa Rica
Tropicos lists more species but it may contain potential synonyms:
C. divergens (syn. of Asplundia divergens)
C. gigantea (syn. of C. palmata)
C. incisa (syn. of C. palmata)
References
Franz, Nico M.; O'Brien, Charles W. (2001) "Ganglionus, a New Genus of Derelomini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Associated with Carludovica (Cyclanthaceae)" Annals of the Entomological Society of America 94 (6): 835–850.
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