Hat's off to Panama?

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Well…. NO….not really !!!

How lucky am I?….VERY !!!

This is the newest addition to my palm collection, or at least I thought that it was.
This is Carludovics palmata…aka Jungle Drum, Jipijapa, Panama Hat Palm.
I’ve no previous knowledge of the plant, it just caught my eye, so I thought that I’d investigate. I had no idea that the rest of the day would be spent taking a journey through Equador!
This tiny plant has so much history, I thought you might like to see just a little of what I discovered!
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It takes six young leaves from C. palmata_, commonly referred to as the “Panama Hat Palm,” to make one hat.
!http://media.growsonyou.com/photos/blogphoto/image/34397/main/STA73992.jpg!
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Panama hats are also manufactured in Mexico and other areas of tropical America where C. palmata grows.

Map of Central America and part of South America.

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Despite its name, the famous “Panama hat” did not originate in Panama at all, but in Ecuador, where a thriving hat-weaving industry utilizes the leaves of Carludovica palmata.

• C. palmata is a palmlike plant that reaches amazing heights in it’s natural habitat.
  
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  Info:
  Although it is a member of the Cyclanthaceae family, considered close relatives of the _Palmae (Arecaceae) _family, *C. palmata and the rest of the Cyclanthaceae are not Palms at all !*
  Members of Cyclanthaceae are quite diverse, represented by herbs, shrubs, and epiphytic lianas (woody, climbing vines). One common feature of this family of monocots is a watery or milky sap in all the plant tissues.
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  The flowers are unisexual, with both male and female flowers on the same plant.
  
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  The inflorescences (groups of flowers attached to a common axis) are densely arranged on axillary spadixes that usually have two or more deciduous spathes.
  
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  The petioles are sheathing at the base of distinctly palmlike, deeply lobed leaves.
  
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  Weevils, in a potentially co-evolved plant-pollinator relationship, pollinate the flowers of Carludovicoideae (one of two subfamilies within Cyclanthaceae; the other is Cyclanthoideae_).
  The relationship between the plant and the pollinator is highly beneficial for the weevil because it feeds on the inflorescence in addition to using it as a site for shelter, mating, and oviposition.
  Reportedly, the flowers only attract weevils from the moment they open until 24 hours later.
  
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  Many explanations have been offered for the misnomer “Panama hat.” Some sources claim the hat earned its name because it was exported to North America via Central America, and the first country entered in Central America is Panama. Others credit prospectors during the Gold Rush who bought the hats in Panama on their way back from California. Still others believe the name came about because workers constructing the Panama Canal used the hats to protect themselves from the sun. However, everyone agrees that Ecuador was and still is the main supplier of these handmade hats.
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  Since 1630, when the first hat-weaving activities were recorded, Panama hats have had major economic importance, with Ecuador alone exporting 1 million hats annually. For a genuine Panama hat, the entire hat-making process, except for a few finishing operations at the exporters’ plants, is accomplished manually.
  !http://media.growsonyou.com/photos/blog_photo/image/34394/main/panama_hat_blog_strippingfibre.jpg!
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  This includes planting C. palmata_, harvesting the leaves, and preparing them for weaving. After the leaves are collected, they are divided into fine strips, boiled in water, bleached with lemon juice, and dried.
  
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  The dried strips are then handwoven into the famous hats.
  !http://media.growsonyou.com/photos/blog_photo/image/34396/main/panama_hat_blogweaving.jpg!
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  C. palmata is sometimes also referred to as “Jipijapa,” the name of a town in Ecuador where some hats are made. Another region of Ecuador where Panama hats are woven is Montecristi.
  
  This is Brent Black judging ‘THE HAT’…only $100,000 !!!
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  Referred to as Montecristi-Panama hats, these are said to be some of the finest Panama hats made.
  
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  The hats from this region can take up to six months to weave and have been known to sell for thousands of U.S. dollars.
  Despite the confusion over the origin of its name, the Panama hat has transcended the fickle fashion world for several centuries.
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  The older leaves of C. palmata are also economically important since they can be used to make mats and baskets. Other species of Carludovica provide the raw material for both commercial and indigenous products.
  
  For example, the leaves of Carludovica angustifolia are used for thatching huts in Peru, and those of Carludovica sarmentosa are used to make brooms in Guyana.
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  I’m absolutely delighted to have an opportunity to grow this fascinating plant in the UK, and as I have enough of the raw material, who knows I might just try my hand, but please don’t hold your breath…it might take a VERY long time!
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