Butia microspadix

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Butia (boo-TEE-ah)
microspadix (my-kroh-SPAH-diks)
Butia microspadix02.jpg
Brazil. Photo by Nigel Kembrey-hardy-palms.co.uk
Scientific Classification
Genus: Butia (boo-TEE-ah)
Species:
microspadix (my-kroh-SPAH-diks)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
America.gif
Morphology
Habit: Solitary & acaulescent.
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil, mostly confined to the state of ParanĂ¡ where it seems to be fairly common in grasslands;
Barranco, Lima, Peru. Photo by Alberto Leonardo Barkema.
also in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and perhaps Sao Paulo. Threatened campos vegetation in Parana state, Brazil. The species is extremely rare and threatened. The pictures were taken in a small preserved area near Ponto Grosso. (Nigel Kembrey-hardy-palms.co.uk)

Description

A very small grasslike Butia rarely forming a trunk, which at most can be 20 or 30 cm high. Very difficult to find due its ability to blend with the campos vegetation. The palm rarely exceeds 60 cm total height. Unfortunately, local agriculture has destroyed most of the campos habitat and only a few isolated patches of campos vegetation remain. (Nigel Kembrey-hardy-palms.co.uk)

Acaulescent; sheathing leaf base not seen, petiole 9-10 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, margins not spiny, merely fibrous, rachis of leaf 41-74, cm long, pinnae 19-20 On each side, regularly arranged at intervals of 1.5-3 cm, middle pinnae 20-26 cm long, 0.3-0.4 cm wide, mostly with acuminate, asymmetrical tips; expanded part of spathe 13-17 cm long, 2.5-3.5 cm wide, smooth or striate, covered with dense dark brown tomentum; branched part of spadix 11-13 cm long, rachiIlae 13-15, each 6-11 em long; pistillate flowers rounded or ovoid 4-5 mm long, 3.5 mm in diam., sepals and petals with obtuse and emarginate tips; staminate flowers 4-7 mm long, sepals unequal in size, 1-4 mm long; fruit 2 cm long, 1.1 cm in diam., beak 4 mm long, locule 1, endocarp woody, about 1 mm thick. cavity smooth within, trivittate, seed not seen. (S.F. Glassman, Re-evaluation of the Genus Butia With a Description of a New Species. 1979)/Palmweb.

After describing S. hatschbachii I found a specimen labelled Butia microspadix that had been determined by M. Burret (see lectotype above for data). Even though immature, this specimen matches S. hatschbachii fairly closely, as well as Burret's description of B. microspadix. As mentioned above, the holotype and paratype cited by Burret were apparently destroyed in the Berlin herbarium. Burret also listed another specimen "very near to this species": Brazil, Sao Paulo, Raiz da Serra (leg. Luederwaldt-com. F. C. Hoehne n. 12267). Although the institutional herbarium sheet numbers are the same (12267) in both specimens, they may not be duplicates of each other because each one bears different collecting data. At any rate, I have not been able to locate the specimen cited by Burret (from Sao Paulo, Raiz da Serra) ; hence, I have designated the specimen which I have seen (from Rio Grande do SuI) as the lectotype. Previously, I had designated Butia microspadix as species incerta (Glassman, 1968, 1970a) because the Luederwaldt specimen is immature and Burret's description did not match the specimen to my satisfaction. After examination of other collections, I am now convinced that this specimen is Butia microspadix. (S.F. Glassman, Re-evaluation of the Genus Butia With a Description of a New Species. 1979)/Palmweb.

Culture

Prefers full sun and grows in a local red clay soil amongst thick campos vegetation which also includes the local Allagoptera leucocalyx. Very slow growing. It grows in an area that sees frequent heavy downpours and moderate frosts in winter. Cold Hardiness Zone: 9b. (Nigel Kembrey-hardy-palms.co.uk)

Comments and Curiosities

Possibly one of the smallest of living in Brazil palms. It has a simple, usually underground stem. Having 4 to 7 sheets with 19 to 20 pairs of cones arranged in one plane, with a length of 23 cm on average to those in the middle section, and variables separated by spaces between 15 and 30 mm. Branched inflorescence with 17 cm long. Ripe fruits of 2 cm long by 1 wide with brown epicarp. (Nigel Kembrey-hardy-palms.co.uk)

At last we are able to offer in commercial quantities one of the fabulous and cold hardy miniature Brazilian Butias that are SO ornamental, and SO difficult to find. This is a superb species, with a maximum height of only about 90cm (3ft). It is a delightful, rare, dwarf species characterized by an underground trunk, very narrow leaflets and woolly inflorescence spathes. Like all other Jelly Palms it is very easy to grow and highly adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Seeds should be left to dry for a while before sowing for best results. (RPS.com)



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).

S.F. Glassman, Re-evaluation of the Genus Butia With a Description of a New Species. 1979


Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.

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