Syagrus werdermannii

From Palmpedia - Palm Grower's Guide
Jump to: navigation, search
Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs)
werdermannii (wehr-dehr-mahn'-ee)
Syagrus werdermannii inflorescence2.jpg
Seychelles Islands. Photo by Paul Craft.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs)
Species:
werdermannii (wehr-dehr-mahn'-ee)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
America.gif
Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Coco-de-broom, Coco da Vassoura

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil Northeast. Syagrus werdermannii Burret a palm tree is popularly known as the
Caetité - Bahia - Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Coco-de-broom which has its habitat in the areas of open savannah of the southern state of Bahia, specifically in the region of Caetité.

Description

Acaulescent, and caespitose. Petiole up to 36 cm long, and 1 cm wide, margins smooth or fibrous, sheathing base up to 20 cm long, deteriorating into separate fibers with age; leaf rachis up to 59 cm long, pinnae up to 19 pair per leaf, middle ones single, in loose or in occasionally tight clusters of 2-3, up to 45 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, mostly with oblique aristate tips, glacous on both surfaces, becoming eglacous with age, upper surface mostly remaining whitish or grayish in color, lower surface greenish; expanded part of flowering spathe up to 40 cm long, and 3 cm wide, deeply sulcate, but grooves obscured by dense brown tomentum; branched part of spadix up to 30 cm long and 3 cm wide, densely tomentose, peduncular part up to 49 cm long, branches up to 11 in number, each branch up to 22 cm; male flowers 6-7 mm long on lower part, 4-5 mm long on upper part; female flowers triangular to ovate, 4-6 mm long and 4 mm wide, calyx brownish, distinctly striated or nerved, often shorter than the yellowish, smooth corolla; expanded part of fruiting spathe up to 48 cm long and 5 cm wide, deeply sulcate, brownish tomentose, becoming caducous with age, branched part of spadix up to 40 cm long, peduncular part up to 72 cm long, branches up to 14 in number, each branch up to 25 cm long, mature fruit; ovoid to obovate 1.8-2.5 cm long, 1.3-1.5 cm in diameter, with short beak up to 4 mm long, exocarp finely striated, endocarp cavity smooth, trivittate, endocarp woody, 1-1.5 mm thick along sides; seed not seen. (Glassman, S.F.) Editing by edric.

Culture

Comments and Curiosities

Phenology: Flowering from May to July.

The fruits, which ripen in the spring, have rounded shape and yellowish-green color. Are much appreciated by the local fauna. (From the Portuguese)

Conservation: Being a kind of very restricted occurrence and due to habitat destruction, runs some risk of extinction. However, in the case of a very ornamental plant nurseries, collectors are the distributing and planting lawns in parks and large gardens in other regions, reducing the danger of its eventual disappearance.

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.

Banner1B
Back to Palm Encyclopedia