Bactris setiflora

Bactris (BAHK-triss) setiflora (seh-tih-FLOHR-ah)
Habitat. Photo by Dr. Finn Borchsenius.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Bactris (BAHK-triss) Species: setiflora (seh-tih-FLOHR-ah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Clustering & caespitose. Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Ecuador: chibu, chonta brava, kamanchai (Shuar), shibu.

Habitat and Distribution

Ecuador (Pastaza) montane forest at 770-1100 m elevation.

Habitat. Photo by Dr. Finn Borchsenius.

Description

Stems cespitose, forming large clumps of 5-30 stems, 2.9-5 m tall, 2-5 cm in diam., densely spiny on internodes. Leaves 3-6 per crown; leaf spines scattered, flattened, yellowish brown, tomentose and spinulose, to 8 cm long, on sheath and lateral surfaces of petiole, few or absent on rachis; sheath 40-71 cm long, sheath, petiole, and rachis densely brown-tomentose; ocrea prominent, spiny, tomentose, 14-25 cm long; petiole 20-33 cm long; rachis 1.1-1.8 m long; pinnae 25-34 per side, regularly arranged, spreading in the same plane, linear-lanceolate to sigmoid, spinulose abaxially and on veins adaxially; middle pinnae 48-66 x 3-4 cm. Inflorescences interfoliar; peduncle 18-20 cm long, recurved, spinulose; prophyll 20-32 cm long; peduncular bract 35-49 cm long, densely covered with yellowish brown or dark brown spines to 2 cm long; rachis 3-5 cm long; rachillae 11-23, 8-15 cm long, at anthesis densely covered with spinules; triads irregularly arranged among paired or solitary staminate flowers; staminate flowers not seen; pistillate flowers (post-anthesis) to 6 mm long; calyx cupular, to 3 mm long, spinulose; corolla urceolate, to 4 mm long, densely spinulose; staminodes not seen; fruits 2- 3 x 2-3 cm, obovoid, lilac; mesocarp juicy; endocarp obovoid, the sterile pores displaced longitudinally; endocarp fibers numerous, with juice sacs attached; fruiting perianth with lobed, 4 mm long, spinulose calyx and lobed, 8 mm long, spinulose corolla, without staminodial ring. (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

Bactris setiflora is diagnosed by its flattened, yellowish brown leaf spines, regularly arranged pinnae, spinulose abaxial leaf surface, and spinulose calyx and corolla of pistillate flowers. Borchsenius et al. (1998) report possible hybrids between this species and B. corossilla . The following seems to be an example: Ecuador. Pastaza: Puyo-Macas rd km 15, 10°28'S, 77°55'W, 940 m, 1 Apr 1992, Borgtoft Pedersen 97669 (AAU). (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)/Palmweb.

Comments and Curiosities

Conservation: Endangered. (IUCN Red List)

Uses: The soft or liquid endosperm is eaten as a snack. Fruits are eaten, and the stem is used as a punt pole in canoes.