Family: Arecaceae
Ceroxylon alpinum — commonly called the Andean wax palm — is a tall, solitary palm tree native to the montane wet forests of Colombia and Venezuela in northern South America. It grows in cool, humid mountain slopes at mid‑elevations and is part of the genus Ceroxylon, a group of palms known for their slender wax‑covered trunks that help protect them from cold conditions. The tree can reach heights of around 20 m (65 ft) with long pinnate leaves and fruit that may be eaten by wildlife; traditionally in some areas its fruit has been used as animal food, and local communities have used parts of the plant for medicinal and social purposes and occasional food use.
Although beautiful and ecologically significant, Ceroxylon alpinum faces serious risks and threats in the wild. The species is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due primarily to habitat loss and fragmentation from agriculture (especially coffee cultivation), pasture expansion, and forest clearing throughout much of its range. These pressures have reduced natural populations dramatically over the past centuries, with significant declines in forest cover and ongoing threats to regeneration. Because this palm grows slowly and takes many years to mature and reproduce, its ability to recover from population loss is limited without active habitat protection and restoration.
High Risk Traits:
- High elevation tropical palm
- Tolerates many soil conditions (and potentially able to exploit many different habitat types)
- Bird-dispersed seeds
Low Risk Traits:
- No records of naturalization or invasiveness worldwide
- Unarmed palm (no spines)
- Landscaping and ornamental value
- Very long time to reproductive maturity (83 years or more)
