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Ceroxylon Andicola

The wax palm of New Grenada, first described by Humboldt and Bonpland, who found it on elevated mountains, extending as high as the lower limit of perpetual snow. Its tall trunk is covered with a thin...

Economic Plants In The Collection Of The U. S. Department Of Agriculture November 11, 2026 1 min read 2,836 views

The wax palm of New Grenada, first described

by Humboldt and Bonpland, who found it on elevated mountains,

extending as high as the lower limit of perpetual snow. Its tall

trunk is covered with a thin coating of a whitish waxy substance,

giving it a marbled appearance. The waxy substance forms an

article of commerce, and is obtained by scraping the trunk. It

consists of two parts of resin and one wax, and, when mixed with

one third of tallow, it makes very good candles. The stem is used

for building purposes, and the leaves for thatching roofs.



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