Carludovica

a genus of plants of the family Cyclan-thaceae. The plants resemble small palms with shortened trunks. The flowers are unisexual and are on a spadix. Every pistillate flower is surrounded by four staminate flowers. The baccate fruits form an aggregate fruit. There are three species in Central America and northwestern South America. The leaves of the jipijapa (Carludovica palmata ) provide the material used in the production of panama hats and other articles.