Syagrus longipedunculata
Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs) longipedunculata (lohn-jee-peh-doon-koo-LAH-tah) | |||||||
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Institute Plantarum, Nova Odessa, São Paulo, Brazil. Photo by Photo by Mauricio Moreira Caixeta. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Brazil West-Central. This palm is endemic to the state of Goiás, in rocky, gravelly, sandy clay soils, of high altitude sparsely vegetated cerrado or campo rupestre.
NOTES: This is a medium-sized acaulescent palm, normally with spicate inflorescences, globose fruit and a long pedunculate
inflorescence and infructescence.Description
Palm erect, 40–60 cm tall, stem solitary, very short to 20–30 cm in height with a rhizome 6–14 × 5–6 cm. Leaves 3–6 in the crown; sheath about 12–14 cm long; pseudopetiole 8–14 cm long with fibrous and smooth margins; true petiole 7–11 × 0.6–0.9 cm by 0.5–0.7 cm thick, rachis 46–65 (–73) cm long; leaflets, 28–42 along each side of the rachis, distributed irregularly in clusters of 2–4 and inserted in different planes, lanceolate, grayish blue, glabrous on both sides, with acute and asymmetrical apex; basal leaflets measuring 9–16 × 0.7–1.1 cm, middle leaflets 10–19 × 0.7–1.2 cm, apical leaflets 8–15 × 0.5–0.9 cm. Inflorescence a spike with glabrous peduncle, 17–31 cm long, somewhat flattened in crosssection, 0.3–0.4 cm in in diam.; prophyll about 6–10 cm × 1.2–2.0; peduncular bract 25–41 cm long, expanded part 8–19 × 2.2–3.3 cm; inflorescence axis 8.0–15.5 cm long, rachis not measureable with 1 primary branch measuring 8–19 cm long; staminate flowers 14–18 × 4.5–7.0 mm, sepals 3.0–4.7 × 1.0–1.2 mm, glabrous, keeled and connate at the base, petals 12.4–16.0 × 2.9–3.5 mm with acute tips, nerves indistinct to slightly raised, stamens 5.3–6.0 mm long, anther 3.5–4.1 mm long, filaments ca. 1.2–1.8 mm long; basal pistillate flowers elongate conical, glabrous, about 11–12 × 5–6 mm, sepals imbricate 7–10 mm × 4.9–5.5 mm, petals glabrous, imbricate at the base but (upper 2–3 mm) slightly valvate at the tips, 7.5–8.2 mm × 3.5–4.7 mm, pistil glabrous, 6.5–7.1 mm × 3.5 mm, stigmas 3, 2.4–2.5 mm long, staminodial ring about 0.7–1.2 mm high, 6- dentate. Fruits globose or somewhat ellipsoid, green when mature with a little bit of indument on the epicarp, 2.0–2.3 × 1.3–1.7 cm, green, with a fleshy-fibrous (pulpy) mesocarp about 2–3 mm thick, endocarp about 1.5–1.7 × 1.0–1.3 cm, with suture lines visible at the base but obscured at the apex, about 0.8–1.0 mm thick. Seed nearly globose about 0.9–1.0 cm diam. with no internal cavity. (Dr. LARRY R. NOBLICK & Dr. HARRI LORENZI 2010) Editing by edric.
Culture
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a
Comments and Curiosities
Etymology: The specific epithet “longipedunculata” from the Latin, literally; long peduncle, this refers to the longer than normal peduncle seen in this acaulescent palm.
PHENOLOGY: Flowering and older fruits seen in December.
External Links
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.
Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.
Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.