Chamaedorea cataractarum

Chamaedorea cataractarum Cat Palm
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Arecales
Family:	Arecaceae
Subfamily:	Arecoideae
Tribe:	Hyophorbeae
Genus:	Chamaedorea Willd.
Species:	C. cataractarum
Binomial name
Chamaedorea cataractarum
Synonyms
Cat Palm, Cascade Palm, Cataract Palm

Chamaedorea cataractarum, the Cat Palm, Cascade Palm, or Cataract Palm, is a small palm tree. It is native to Southern Mexico and Central America.

Description

Chamaedorea cataractarum grows to 1 metre (3.3 ft) tall indoors and 2 metres (6.6 ft) outdoors, with slender, green, cane-like leaf stems and pinnate leaves. This palm reproduces sexually via seed as well as asexually--new plants sprout from the base of older plants. Flower stalks are either male or female, but both occur in the same group of plants. After releasing pollen, male stalks wither. If female flowers are pollinated, the stalks turn a bright orange color as the seeds mature.

Immature fruit is ovoid, shiny and dark green. Fruit remains sessile on the flower stalk. It turns black when mature and measures about 1.25 centimetres (0.49 in) through the long axis, 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in diameter.^[1][2]

Cultivation

Cat Palms require high light for indoor House plants. The suggested minimum temperature is 4.5°C (40°F). They are particularly susceptible to dry soil, and water must be applied regularly. Fertilizer should be applied every one or two months.^[1][2]

Chamaedorea cataractarum are a garden plant in tropical and subtropical]] regions and climates.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Dave's Garden -- Chamaedorea cataractarum
2. ^ ^{a b} The Palm Society, Northern California Chapter -- Chamaedorea cataractarum