Chamaedorea oblongata

*Chamaedorea oblongata* is a tropical American understory palm with a solitary trunk and pinnate leaves. The Royal Horticultural Society lists “cauqui” as a common name and records its range from Mexico to Central America. Its form and leathery leaflets make it a distinctive foliage plant for sheltered, shaded settings. [The RHS profile confirms the name and range.](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/157574/chamaedorea-oblongata/details) ## Identity and foliage Kew accepts *Chamaedorea oblongata* and reports a native range extending from Mexico through Central America, including Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It places the species in Arecaceae and describes it as a shrub of seasonally dry tropical biome. A palm horticulture reference describes the typical form as solitary, with ovoid, leathery leaflets, while noting that some cultivated plants sucker. [Kew’s profile](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:54920-2) supports identity and geographic context; [Palms for California](https://www.palmpedia.net/palmsforcal/Chamaedorea_oblongata) gives species-specific cultivation notes. ## Siting Use filtered light or shade and avoid harsh exposure; Palms for California notes that direct sun can damage leaves. Choose a moist, well-drained medium, with some acidity tolerated, and keep the plant sheltered from cold. The RHS Chamaedorea guide discusses these preferences for the genus, using *C. elegans* as its example, so treat that guidance as general context rather than a species-specific threshold. ([RHS growing guide](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/chamaedorea/growing-guide); [Palms for California](https://www.palmpedia.net/palmsforcal/Chamaedorea_oblongata)) ## Maintenance Keep the root zone moist but not waterlogged, and protect foliage from prolonged direct sun in hot conditions. Remove only dead leaves. Place it where fronds have room to spread, and inspect the plant’s form when selecting a specimen. ## Maintenance