Geonoma congesta

This small palm only reaches a maximum height of 3 metres. It is a clumping palm that grows in dense clusters, and its thin stems are covered in evergreen leaf sheaths (at the base of the petioles of fallen leaves).

The leaves of the Geonoma congesta are pinnate and made up of straight leaflets.

The male flowers are very small (2 to 4 mm) and are located at the ends of the rachis (the main axis) of the inflorescence. They are made up of 3 petals and 3 sepals that are fused toward the base. The female flowers resemble the male flowers but are slightly larger (3 to 5 mm) and slightly more leathery.

The fruits are drupes that grow between 6 and 10 mm in length and turn purple or black when ripe.

Though many species of palms grow to be very tall, all palms are herbaceous plants. Unlike trees, they cannot produce wood in order to increase the width of their trunks.