Phenakospermum

Phenakospermum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Zingiberales
Family:	Strelitziaceae
Genus:	Phenakospermum Endl.
Species:	P. guyannense
Binomial name
Phenakospermum guyannense (A.Rich.) Endl. ex Miq.
Synonyms
Musidendron amazonicum (Mart.) Nakai Phenakospermum amazonicum (Mart.) Miq. Ravenala guyannensis (A.Rich.) Steud. Urania amazonica Mart. Urania guyannensis A.Rich.

Phenakospermum is a monotypic genus in the family Strelitziaceae. Only one species is recognized, Phenakospermum guyannense, native to Surinam, French Guyane and the eastern Amazon River basin. This plant grows to over 10 m in height but can be felled with a single blow with a machete.

Although not as prized as the ornamental Traveler's palm (in the same family), P. guyannense is used locally in Brazil as a landscape element. The broad leaves are used to wrap fish in Benevides, Brazil, especially when Calathea leaves (Marantaceae) are not available.

Previously, this genus was included in the now exclusively Old World genus Ravenala.

References

• Data related to Phenakospermum guyannense at Wikispecies
• Media related to Phenakospermum guyannense at Wikimedia Commons