Region: tropical; South and Central America, Caribbean.
Genus: ± 26 species.
Botany: spiny palms; stems with spines; leaves pinnately compound, feather-like, with spines; fruit with pines; flowering repeatedly; flowers separate male and female, pollinated by insects; fruit eaten by several birds, parrots, mammals.
Taxonomy: close to Bactris, Caryota, Acrocomia, Astrocaryum, Bactris, Desmoncus.
Use: ornamentals; fruit, seeds, palm heart as food.