Carludovica palmata (also known as Panama hat plant, toquilla palm, calá, palmilla, palmero, pojom, jiraca, junco, soyacal, tepejilote, and jipijapa) is a palm-like monocot plant.[1] It is not a true palm. Its leaves are very similar compared to the leaves of some true palms, for example, to Chelyocarpus ulei. Unlike several true palms, C. palmata does not develop a woody trunk. Its female flowers (which mature first) have large stigmas, and its male flowers (which mature later) have a lot of pollen.
The Panama hat palm is cultivated from Central America to Bolivia. Its soft, flexible, and durable fibers are used to weave Panama hats[2] and other items. Its leaf shoots are consumed in Central America.[3]