Wax palm
This plant has been used in candles and Easter processions.
Wax palms are found in huge populations in the Andes. In the 19th century, they were an important source of plant wax. The wax was scraped off trunks and leaves and was used to make candles.
In recent times, young leaves are harvested for religious processions related to Palm Sunday. The lower part of the young leaf is woven into a basket that can be decorated with flowers and religious symbols.
Although wax palms are widely distributed over an large area in the Andes, many species are in such a rapid decline, that Colombia has now banned the use of the wax palm leaves in Easter processions.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: The Mountain Forest House
- Danish name: Vokspalme
- Latin name: Ceroxylon vogelianum
- Family: Palm family / Arecaceae
- Natural habitat: Humid montane forests in the Andes