Syagrus inajai

Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs) inajai (in-ah-JAH-ee)
Photo by Pierre-Olivier ALBANO.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs) Species: inajai (in-ah-JAH-ee)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Palma pupunha, pupunha palm, PUPUNHARANA BRAVA, wild peach palm

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname, Lowland

Photo by Pierre-Olivier ALBANO.

rain forest and gallery forest in areas not subject to seasonal inundation; Found mainly on clay soils it is also found in open areas on rocky soils; at elevations up to 500 metres. Found mainly on clay soils where it grows to an altitude of 500 m (1600 ft.).

Description

A slender Syagrus from northern Brazil. The arching leaves are only lightly plumose, with a smooth, grey, slender trunk (4-15 cm in diameter) to about 20 m tall, lax or drooping leaflets. Syagrus inajai is a single-stemmed, unbranched, it is topped by a crown of 15 - 18 leaves that can each be up to 3.5 metres long. The leaves are pinnate, and may exceed 4 feet long. The inflorescences are interfoliar, monoecious and have yellowish beige male, and female flowers on the same bunch, arranged in triads. They are showy, with a large stalk and persistent bract. The fruits are ovoid drupes, measure approximately 3 cm in diameter, are covered with leathery, smooth, green skin, which is yellow when ripe. Its thin, fibrous pulp in orange yellow color together with a hard core and involves a single white, sweet and oily seed. Editing by edric.

Culture

A plant of the moist tropics, it can also be grown outdoors in warm subtropical areas. Prefers a sunny position. Grows best in a moist, well drained soil.

"The Syagrus inajai is native to the forests in northwestern Amazonia. And, they are very common in the forests around Manaus where I live. I had a bunch of them growing on my lot near Manaus. They were there already, I did not plant them. It is a nice smaller palm in my opinion. But, as to cold hardiness I have no idea. It grows in the same area as Oenocarpus bacaba. As to water our climate is humid lowland equatorial tropics with and average rainfall of 2500 mms per year and at 84 meters elevation. So, it likes hot humid conditions and grows mostly on clay soils." (Don Kittelson)

Comments and Curiosities

Uses: The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. The leaves are sometimes used for thatching houses, and can last up to 15 years. The seeds are edible, palatable. Its seeds have nice coconut flavor and can be eaten dry or "fresh". They also serve as raw material for a type of edible oil.

Phenology: It is a monoic palm, with staminate and pistillate flowers in the same inflorescence. However, we observed ten entirely male inflorescences, a finding not previously reported for the species. The individuals of S. inajai flower all year round, with one to three inflorescences per individual. But flowering is higher from February to July, outside the dry period. (See external link)