Copernicia

Copernicia
Copernicia alba
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Arecales
Family:	Arecaceae
Subfamily:	Coryphoideae
Tribe:	Corypheae
Genus:	Copernicia Mart.
Species
See text

Copernicia is a genus of 24 species of palms, native to South America and the Caribbean. They are fan palms (Arecaceae tribe Corypheae), with the leaves with a bare petiole terminating in a rounded fan of numerous leaflets. The species are small to medium-sized trees growing to 5-30 m tall, typically occurring close to streams and rivers in savanna habitats.

Species and hybrids

Copernicia alba Copernicia baileyana Copernicia berteroana Copernicia brittonorum Copernicia x burretiana Copernicia cowellii Copernicia curbeloi Copernicia curtissii Copernicia ekmanii Copernicia × escarzana Copernicia fallense Copernicia gigas Copernicia glabrescens Copernicia hospita

Copernicia humicola Copernicia longiglossa Copernicia macroglossa Copernicia molineti Copernicia x occidentalis Copernicia prunifera Copernicia rigida Copernicia roigii Copernicia × shaferi Copernicia x sueroana Copernicia × textilis Copernicia tectorum Copernicia × vespertilionum Copernicia yarey

The genus is named after the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

In some of the species, the leaves are coated with a thin layer of wax, known as carnauba wax.

External links

• Sorting Copernicia names
• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Copernicia
• Pictures of genus members