This giant, strange palm with straight trunks, reaching an astonishing height of up to 50 m, is only found in Colombia .
Growing in the humid mountainous forests of the eastern slopes of the Andes in Colombia and Peru, the Quindío wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense) is the tallest monocotyledonous plant in the world.
This tree belonging to the areca family can grow to a height of 45-60 meters. This is an impressive number when compared to some related tree species such as areca (Areca catechu) - 20 meters high, or coconut (Cocos nucifera) - 30 meters high.
The body of the Quindío wax brush is cylindrical, smooth, brightly colored, and covered with wax. The leaves are dark green or grayish, about 2 meters long, possibly up to 5 meters, with petioles 80 cm long. Their fruits are spherical, orange-red in color when ripe, 1.6–2 cm in diameter.
As a tree species that prefers high mountain climates, Quindío wax palm grows in large populations at altitudes of 2,000 and 3,100 m above sea level.
The impressive height and dense density of this tree species create a unique landscape for the area, unlike any other ecosystem in the world.
Towering palm trees, straight trunks reaching up to the sky.
The palm trees here have a maximum age of up to 50 years.
Quindío wax palm populations provide habitat (food source, shelter, nesting.) for countless different animal species, including many rare and endangered parrot species.
In human life, Quindío wax brush has many uses. The fruit is used as animal feed.
Wax from the trunk is used to make candles, and the outer layer of the trunk is used as a construction material, especially to make water systems for agricultural production in remote areas.
Since 1985, the Quindío wax palm has been recognized by the Colombian state as a national tree and protected by law.
In recent years, these unique palm populations have been seriously threatened by environmental degradation, overexploitation and the development of diseases.
Known as the tallest palm variety in the world when it can grow up to 50m, the wax palm is an exclusive tree species of Colombia.
