Syagrus gouveiana

Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs) gouveiana (goov-ee-AHN-ah)
Found only in the city of Gouveia, MG, Brazil. Photo by Mauricio Moreira Caixeta.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs) Species: gouveiana (goov-ee-AHN-ah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
coquinho-da-pedra

Habitat and Distribution

Found only in the city of

Found only in the city of Gouveia, MG, Brazil. Photo by Mauricio Moreira Caixeta.

Gouveia, MG, Brazil.

Description

Palm solitary, less than 1 m in height, with a very short or subterranean stem. Leaves arching, with 3–4 in the crown, less than 1 m long and the general coloration medium to light green; sheath 12–26 cm with fibrous margins, pseudopetiole 16–31 cm long; petiole smooth 2–8 cm long; rachis 42–75 cm long; leaflets 30–60 along each side, linear, rigidcoriaceous with apex acute or rounded and asymmetric, concolorous, distributed irregularly in clusters of 2–3 and inserted at different angles along the rachis, basal leaflets measuring 9–26 × 0.2–0.6 cm, middle leaflets 18–25 × 1.2–2.0 cm, apical leaflets 6–14 × 0.3–0.7 cm. Infloresescences erect and spicate to branched; peduncle 17–28 cm long; prophyll 9–17 × 1.5–3.5 cm long; peduncular bract 28–47 cm long, expanded part 14–24 × 4–6 cm; inflorescence axis 8–15 cm long, rachis 0–5 cm, with 1–6 primary branches 5–11 cm long; flowers usually arranged in triads, but frequently arranged in groups of four with two central pistillate flowers each of which is flanked on one side by one staminate flower, both staminate and pistillate flowers frequently have 4 sepals and petals instead of the normal 3, staminate flowers 12–14 × 5–7 mm, sepals 2–3 × less than 1 mm, glabrous, keeled and connate at the base, petals 10 × 3–4 mm with acute tips, nerves indistinct to slightly raised, stamens 4.5–5.0 mm long, anther 4 mm long, filaments 1.5 mm long; basal pistillate flowers elongate conical, glabrous, 13–15 × 5–6 mm (apical flowers ca. 10 × 4 mm), sepals imbricate 14–15 × 5–6 mm, petals glabrous, imbricate at the base but slightly valvate (upper 3–5 mm) at the tips, 11–13 × 4–5 mm, pistil glabrescent, 8–9 × 4–5 mm diam., stigmas 3, 3–4 mm long, staminodial ring ca. 2 mm high and 6-dentate. Fruits globose, yellowish brown, 1.7–2.1 cm diam., with a fibrous-fleshy (pulpy) mesocarp. Endocarp 1.9–2.2 × 1.5–1.7 cm. DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY: Occurs in the state of Minas Gerais in the Cadeia do Espinhaço region, in high altitude campo rupestre or cerrado, generally in well-drained rocky terrain. (Dr. LARRY R. NOBLICK & Dr. HARRI LORENZI 2010) Editing by edric.

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a

Comments and Curiosities

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the closest town to the place of its discovery, Gouveia, Minas Gerais.

PHENOLOGY: Flowering with some immature fruit in June.

NOTES: A small acaulescent palm with coriaceous, concolorous leaves, usually spicate and sometimes branched inflorescences, often with flowers in groups of 4 instead of the normal triad or with 4 sepals and 4 petals instead of the normal 3, these are characters that set this species apart from anything else in the region. (Dr. LARRY R. NOBLICK & Dr. HARRI LORENZI 2010)