| Phenakospermum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Phenakospermum guyannense at Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Zingiberales |
| Family: | Strelitziaceae |
| Genus: | Phenakospermum Endl. |
| Species: | P. guyannense
|
| Binomial name | |
| Phenakospermum guyannense | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Musidendron amazonicum (Mart.) Nakai | |
Phenakospermum is a monotypic genus in the family Strelitziaceae. Only one species is recognized, Phenakospermum guyannense, native to Suriname, French Guiana and the eastern Amazon River basin. This plant grows to over 10 m (33 ft) in height but can be felled with a single blow with a machete.
Although not as prized as the ornamental Traveler's palm (in the same family), P. guyannense is used locally in Brazil as a landscape element. The broad leaves are used to wrap fish in Benevides, Brazil, especially when Calathea leaves (Marantaceae) are not available.
Previously, this genus was included in the now exclusively old world genus Ravenala.
- ^ "Phenakospermum guyannense (A.Rich.) Endl. ex Miq.". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 August 2013 – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online