Attalea funifera
| Attalea (at-tahl-EH-ah) funifera (foo-nih-FEHR-ah) | |||||||
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 Una, Bahia, Brazil. Photo by Antonio Silveira | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Attalea funifera is found in Brazil Northeast, Brazil Southeast.
Description
A large, solitary palm reaching 12-15 m in height with up to 12 m long leaves. It forms a plumose head of up to 30 large leaves that are held erect in a shuttlecock-like crown. It has a clustering form, considered the same species, but has been given the name, A. acaulis. Editing by edric.
Culture
Warm, sunny, and moist.
Comments and Curiosities
Fire Management of the Piassava Fiber Palm (Attalea funifera) in Eastern Brazil.
The ability of rainforest palms to survive and even thrive after burning presents an evolutionary puzzle. Why should so many species exhibit apparent adaptations to an ecological factor--in this case fire-that is infrequently a natural element in the ecosystem? The answer to this question is not immediately obvious, although it could involve coincidental preadaptation, immigration from a more arid region, or in situ adaptation to a fluctuating climate. But, regardless of its origin, fire resistance is a common characteristic of palms and one that has received some consideration. Explanations of fire tolerance in palms have focused on various morphological attributes of the seed, the juvenile, or the adult stage. First, it has been suggested that palm seeds remain dormant in the soil seed bank for many years until induced to germinate by a fire (Hartley 1967; Rizzini 1963). This explanation, however, is inconsistent with the noted inability of palm seeds to retain viability under storage for any length of time. Second, previously established palm seedlings and juveniles may survive the effects of a fire because their subterranean terminal buds are safely removed from the heat of the flames (Anderson 1983; Brinkmann and Vieira 1971; Rawitscher 1948). Third, since the trunks of palms are fire resistant (Tomlinson 1979), it is possible that spared individuals serve as immediate seed sources for the re-vegetation of burned sites (Harlan 1975). In the case of the piassava fiber palm (Attalea funifera) of eastern Brazil, folk wisdom and the local literature support the first explanation, that is, that seeds are induced to germinate by fire or by its indirect effects.
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Thus, Bondar (1942) and Valeriano (1934) attributed the luxuriant post-fire carpet of piassava seedlings to the stimulation of long-dormant seeds by the heat of the sun, whereas Moraes (1911) speculated that the heat of the fire directly induced germination. This paper considers the role of fire as a management tool in piassava forests, and specifically examines the validity of the seed stimulation hypothesis. Using field germination experiments, the following questions are addressed: Do piassava seeds retain viability in the soil seed bank, or do they readily germinate? And if seed dormancy exists, is there evidence that buried seeds are induced to germinate by the heat of a fire, by the nutrient flush following a fire, or by the increased access to solar radiation? Piassava is endemic to the moist tropical forests of coastal Bahia, Brazil. The mean annual precipitation, which falls equally throughout the year, is on the order of 1500-2200 mm, and the mean annual temperature ranges from 23 °to 24° C (Voeks 1987). The topography of this region is visually dominated by a series of well-eroded sea terraces, or tabuleiros. Although usually covered by deep latosolic soils, these tabuleiros are in places mantled with tropical podzols (Braun and Ramalho 1980). Porous in texture and low in exchangeable bases, these silicious podzolic soils sustain a slightly-dwarfed evergreen restinga forest, of which piassava is a common member (Silva and Vinha 1982). Piassava attains a height of 12 to 15 m, and is easily identified in the field due to the presence of 9-m-long. fronds covered with drooping, aggregated leaflets. Inflorescences consist of massive, simply branched panicles that are either male, female, or bisexual. Individual palms often change gender as they grow and reach the forest canopy, a condition associated with decreasing competition and increasing access to solar radiation (Voeks 1988a). Pollination is carried out by highly specialized beetles (Phyllotrox tatianae and Mystrops sp.), and is apparently facilitated by a flower mimicry system (Voeks 1985). Fruits weigh up to 500 gm, contain 1-3 seeds (kernels), and are much sought after by local residents who both eat the seeds raw and render them into cooking oil. Although fruits were in the past naturally dispersed by large forest rodents, over-hunting of these animals for food has for the most part eliminated this means of seed dispersal (Voeks 1987). The primary economic value of piassava is its sheath fiber. These 5-m strands of water-resistant fiber have long represented an important component of the regional export economy, first in the fashioning of anchor cables, and later in the manufacture of brooms and brushes (cf. Sousa 1938; Hooker 1849). During the twentieth century, piassava fiber exports have fallen markedly as a result of competition with plastic substitutes. Nevertheless, fiber production has risen sharply in the last few decades to meet a growing domestic demand, and at present over 60,000 tons of this raw material are extracted annually from the Bahian forests (Voeks 1988b). Although successful planting schemes have recently taken place, piassava is traditionally managed by fire. Small patches of restinga forest are burned during the summer (December-March), after all but the piassavas have been hacked down and allowed to dry. Piassava seedlings quickly emerge from these blackened, nutrient-rich soils, and become commercially productive in 5 to 8 years. Because natural forest succession of the burned site is quite gradual, management by fire need only be repeated every 50 years or so in order to maintain dense stands of this palm (Voeks 1987). In addition: The United Nations General Assembly declared the year 2009 as the International Year of Natural Fibres (United Nations, 2006). Apart from being a sustainable alternative natural fibres are technically feasible and offer many positive social implications. Over recent years there has been an increase in the use of the leaves, fruits and fibres from the Piassava palm. In Brazil, there are three species of piassava palms; the Leopoldinia piassaba and Aphandra natalia are native from the western Amazon and the Attalea funifera Mart is from the Atlantic Forest. Attalea funifera Mart fibres can reach 5m in length, are about 1mm in diameter and are water-resistant (Aquino, D´Almeida and Monteiro, 2001, and Voecks and Vinha, 1988). Fibres from the Bahia piassaba palm have been described as harder than other lignocelulosic fibres. Piassava palms are economically valuable and are usually undomesticated. The cultivation of piassava is managed by approximately 2000 small-scale farmers, processors and their families. They have long represented a significant part of the regional export economy, as fashioning of anchor cables, and later in the manufacture of brooms and brushes. Piassava fibre exports had fallen remarkably as a result of the competition with synthetic fibres and threads. Nowadays, they are used as car seat fillings and as reinforcement in polymeric matrixes too. Residues from fibres, known as bagasse, ribbon or lees, are used as roof and industrial thermal insulation. At present over 10.000tons of these raw materials are extracted annually from the Atlantic Forest. Research in Attalea funifera Mart to reinforce polymer matrixes is still uncommon. Recently, Brazilian researchers have been investigating the piassava fibres as a possible reinforcement of polymeric based composites (Aquino, Monteiro, D´Almeida, 2003 and Bonelli et alli, 2005). Guimarães (1987) investigated the mechanical behaviour of piassava fibres and lees to reinforce cement based composites. This work compares the physical behaviour of piassava fibres and lees. 2. Piassava fibres and lees For technical purposes it is worth defining and confirming the terms used to describe the fibrous plant materials. Individual fibres contain sclerenchyma cells which provides the plant with mechanical support. Technical fibres or textile fibres are bundles of individual fibres that have mechanical properties that depend on the origin of plant, the nature of the extraction, refining procedures, age, and chemical constituents (Vincent, 2000). |
- IMAGE GALLERY
Photo by Gilenao Machado
Photo-Rare Palm Seeds.com
Bahia, Brazil. Photo by Alex Popovkin
Bahia, Brazil. Photo by Alex Popovkin
Una, Bahia, Brazil. Photo by Antonio Silveira
Una, Bahia, Brazil. Photo by Antonio Silveira
Brazil. Photo by Tico da Pisa
Miami, FL. Photo by Kyle Wicomb
La Habana Botanical Garden, Cuba. Photo by Jason Schoneman
Bundles of recently harvested Piassava leaf base fiber. Bahia, Brazil. Photo by Dennis Johnson
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
Farm São Miguel -Itacaré - BA - Brazil. Photo: Mauricio Caixeta.
"Seed cut out by cutia, Dasyprocta leporina, at night roaming around my house and resembling a rabbit (cf. its specific name, leporina), also found here. Seen face-to-face just once in 20 years of living here..." Bahia, Brazil. Photo by Alex Popovkin
"Seed cut out by cutia, Dasyprocta leporina, at night roaming around my house and resembling a rabbit (cf. its specific name, leporina), also found here. Seen face-to-face just once in 20 years of living here..." Bahia, Brazil. Photo by Alex Popovkin
"Seed cut out by cutia, Dasyprocta leporina, at night roaming around my house and resembling a rabbit (cf. its specific name, leporina), also found here. Seen face-to-face just once in 20 years of living here..." Bahia, Brazil. Photo by Alex Popovkin
"Seed cut out by cutia, Dasyprocta leporina, at night roaming around my house and resembling a rabbit (cf. its specific name, leporina), also found here. Seen face-to-face just once in 20 years of living here..." Bahia, Brazil. Photo by Alex Popovkin
Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) cracking open a Piassava Palm (Attalea funifera) nut to drink the milk, Brazil.
Brown Capuchin (Cebus apella) in tree drinking from Piassava Palm (Attalea funifera) nut, monkeys use rocks and anvils to crack open nuts, Cerrado habitat, Piaui State, Brazil.
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.
