Family: Arecaceae
Origin, Description & Uses:
Eremospatha macrocarpa (large-fruit rattan palm) is a climbing palm native to the tropical forests of West and Central Africa, where it grows in humid lowland and swamp forests. It is a slender, clustering rattan with long, flexible, vine-like stems that can extend for many meters as they climb over surrounding vegetation using hooked spines. Like other rattans, it produces tough, durable canes that are widely used for weaving, binding, and construction. The stems are commonly split into strips and used for basketry, furniture frames, rope, and house-building materials, making it an important non-timber forest resource in its native range.
Risks & Threats:
Although Eremospatha macrocarpa is not known to be naturalized in Hawaii, it possesses traits that raise concern. As a fast-growing, climbing rattan adapted to dense tropical forests, it can scramble over and compete with native vegetation for light and space, potentially altering forest structure. Its spiny stems and ability to form dense, entangling growth may hinder movement of wildlife and people, while also making management difficult if it spreads. Like other rattans, it is well suited to humid tropical environments similar to Hawaii, increasing the possibility of establishment if introduced. Because of these characteristics, further evaluation is needed to determine whether this species could become invasive and negatively impact Hawaii’s ecosystems.
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates
- A colonizer of heavy disturbed areas
- Armed along the margins with inequidistant, reflexed thorns
- Spiny climbing palm
- Fleshy-fruits adapted for bird and mammal dispersal
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of naturalization or invasiveness elsewhere in the world
- Will only grow in warm, tropical climates
- Non-toxic
- Light demanding (Shade-intolerant)
- Reaches maturity in 9+ years
