Aiphanes horrida

Native to Bolivia, northern Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago, this solitary palm can reach about 50 feet tall. Long black spines cover the trunk and many parts of the leaves. In Colombia, it grows between about 300 and 5,600 feet. The fruits ripen to bright red and have an edible pulp rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. The seeds are also edible and yield an oil with a coconut-like flavor. Fruit clusters are sometimes used as decorations in Colombia. Photographed in the department of Antioquia, Colombia.