Claudio Contreras / Maya woman weaving Panama hat with fibres of Jipijapa (Carludovica palmata) a palm-like perennial plant, Santa Cruz Hacienda, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June

Claudio Contreras / Maya woman weaving Panama hat with fibres of Jipijapa (Carludovica palmata) a palm-like perennial plant, Santa Cruz Hacienda, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June

Doug Wechsler / Panama hat palm (Carludovica palmata) source of fiber for hats, not actually a palm, Province El Oro, Buenaventura Biological Reserve, Ecuador

Alan Watson / Cauliflorous flowers of a Pringamosa tree (Urera caracasana) and fronds of a Panama hat palm (Carludovica palmata) in lowland tropical rainforest, Coqui, Chocó Department, Pacific Coast, Colombia

Cyril Ruoso / Toquilla Palm (Carludovica palmata) fronds hanging over creek, Barro Colorado Island, Panama