Geonoma cuneata subsp. sodiroi

Stems solitary or rarely clustered, short and erect, rarely more than 30 cm long, 2-3 cm in diameter, rough-ringed. Leaf blade 40-100 cm long, with 4-12, sigmoid pinnae on each side; ribs slightly depressed above, forming an angle of 60-90° with the rachis; developing leaves reddish green. Fruit globose. Flowers in Jan-Mar.

The reddish colour of the developing leaves coupled with sigmoid pinnae with the main vein not raised above appears to distinguish this variety unambiguously from all other forms of the species. At present no large, healthy population of this variety is known and it must be considered an endangered taxon Endemic to W Ecuador, known only from a small area around Sto. Domingo de los Colorados.