'Pluribus' fact check: Are Chunga palms really dangerous? Here's the truth behind those spiky trees
So far, 'Pluribus' on Apple TV+ has been doing an exceptional job of portraying its post-apocalyptic world with a unique twist. On one hand, there's Rhea Seehorn's Carol Sturka, the reluctant romance fantasy and historical fiction writer who is out on a crusade to reverse things back to their status quo before the Joined or the Hive Mind came to prominence. On the other hand, there's the stubborn storage facility worker named Manousos Oveido, played by Carlos Manuel Vesga, who is determined to receive no aid from the Joined.
In the seventh episode of 'Pluribus', titled 'The Gap', Manousos leaves his home behind in Paraguay after learning that he's not alone but one among the thirteen individuals who have been spared the transition. Driving his trusted car, he floats through the lush green South American countryside, driving on the Pan American highway. Esquire has noted that the long journey, worth 5,100 miles, takes Manousos through several countries as he makes his way towards Albuquerque, New Mexico, to meet Carol. Throughout his journey, Manousos remains steadfast in his denial of any help from the Joined, siphoning diesel from abandoned cars and living off the land.
His journey comes to a halt at the Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama. This sixty-six-mile stretch of dense jungle presents a formidable barrier and has no motorable roads, as per The Direct. After ditching his beloved car, Manousos is about to embark on foot through the ominous jungle, when a local representative of the Joined warns him about the dangers that await, "Then there are the chunga palms. The spines can grow up to 20 centimetres long, and they're covered in bacteria. Even the smallest cut could lead to a fatal infection."
Manousos does not heed the warning and proceeds with his characteristic arrogance. The trek is long and arduous, and might take anywhere between three to fifteen days. After navigating his way around for a while, Manousos trips and tragically impales himself on a chunga palm tree. His cries of pain resound through the forest. He aims to make amends and tries to cauterize his wounds with his heated machete, but to no avail. Indeed, the chunga palm trees are a real-life menace that are found throughout the Darién Gap.
Their scientific name is Astrocaryum standleyanum, and they are also referred to as the black palm tree. Although the fruit of the tree is edible and the fibrous strands are used for several purposes, the sharp, needle-like spikes can prove to be fatal. As per the Rainforest Foundation US, "The chunga palm is an imposing species that reaches between 49-66 feet tall. Its trunk is armored with sharp black spines resembling porcupine quills, some reaching up to eight inches in length. When touched, they crack and feel as rough as straw." Manousos' ordeal entered a watershed moment when he called out to a rescue helicopter, after deliriously walking in the throes of pain and an infection-induced fever. 'Pluribus' airs new episodes on Friday on Apple TV+.
