SCIENTIFIC NAME: Gastrococos crispa

COMMON NAME(S): Belly palm
SUB FAMILY: Arecoideae
TRIBE: Cocoeae
ORIGIN: Endemic to Cuba
HARDINESS ZONES: 10B-11 (only slight damage at 26 degrees F)
TYPICAL MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 45'
GROWTH RATE: Slow to moderate
HABIT: Solitary with an untidy head of arching leaves
SALT TOLERANCE: Moderate
DROUGHT TOLERANCE: High
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Found on calcareous soils
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: High
NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS: Moderate
POPULAR USES: Specimen
HUMAN HAZARDS: Trunk spiny, especially when young
POPULAR OR RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS: None reported

COMMENTS: The "belly" of the palm makes it an interesting specimen, and the spines on the trunk are usually not a problem once the tree reaches a moderate size. The long hanging inflorescence of yellow flowers becomes a heavy cluster of orange fruits which are edible but used as stock feed in Cuba.