The national tree of Colombia is native to the humid montane forests of the Andes in Colombia to Peru. It is a legally protected species in Colombia. Its predominant presence is along the central and eastern Andes of Colombia, with populations thriving between altitudes of 6,600 and 10,200 feet above sea level. This palm stands out as the tallest recorded monocot globally, capable of reaching an impressive height of 200 feet.  Its trunk is cylindrical, smooth, light-colored, and covered with wax, with leaf scars forming dark rings around the trunk. It's cultivated in San Franciso with its cool, foggy summers and mild winters.  The wax from its trunk found use in candle-making. Its fruit is noted to be edible, although not commonly consumed and its flowers exhibit a yellow-green, star-shaped appearance with a white center. Photographed in the Cocora Valley, Colombia.