Chamaedorea oblongata

Chamaedorea oblongata is a small palm in the Arecaceae family. It comes from Mexico and Central America. Kew lists its life form as a shrub. Garden accounts call it a solitary palm, meaning it has one stem. The RHS gives cauqui as a common name. It lists two synonyms: Chamaedorea fusca and Chamaedorea lunata. In that account, both names mean the same species.

This palm grows to about 10 feet [3 metres] tall. Its broad, bright green leaflets give it much of its garden appeal. The leaves feel thick and leathery and have a glossy surface. Leaf shape varies a great deal across its native range. Some leaves are narrow and flat, with a lanceolate, or lance-like, shape. Others have a broad diamond or trapezoid shape. These broad forms may curve down to form a cup. All these shapes form part of the species description. No one leaf outline shows all its forms.

Fruit shape varies across the species' range as well. Some fruits are almost round, while others are oval. Still others have a slight crescent shape. PACSOA shows male and female flowers in separate clusters. The supplied text gives no flower colour or bloom season. It gives no colour or size for ripe fruit either. The evidence does not show whether any part is safe to eat. Nor does it show safety for people or pets.

In Central America, it grows in damp or wet lowland forests. PACSOA places these sites on the region's Atlantic side. It records the palm up to 1,148 feet [350 metres] above sea level. The plant often grows on limestone in those forests. Kew places it in the seasonally dry tropical biome. These accounts cover both its broad climate and its wetter forest home. Growth on limestone alone does not show what soil pH it needs in gardens.

For garden care, PACSOA calls for warmth, shelter, and moist conditions. It also notes success in warm temperate climates. That advice gives no lowest temperature or hardiness zone. Many gardens and palm collections grow this palm. Its small size and glossy leaves make it a plant grown for its looks. The supplied accounts name no specific pests or diseases.