Difference between revisions of "Butia paraguayensis"

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LA Arboretum, California.

Butia (BEW-tee-ah) paraguayensis (par-uh-gway-EN-sis)
Fruit
Scientific Classification
Genus: Butia (BEW-tee-ah) Species: paraguayensis (par-uh-gway-EN-sis)
Synonyms
Butia arenicola.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Yatay guazu (Paraguay), yatay poñi (Argentina), coco amargoso (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Dwarf yatay, Arrastradiza palm. Believed to be a variety of B. yatay.

Habitat and Distribution

Argentina Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Paraguay, Uruguay. Paraguay, Argentina (province of Corrientes) and Brazil (states of Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, and Mato Grosso) in campos, cerrados and pastures. (S.F. Glassman. 1979)

A dwarf Butia species, from the open grass lands of N Argentina Paraguay, and Southern Brazil.

Description

Trunk type: Solitary, trunk usually subterranean, rarely reaches more than eight inches in diameter. Hight: Reaching a maximum of 2 meters upon maturity. Spread: 3 meters. Leaf detail: Large, elegant, silver green to bluish green, slightly recurving pinnate leaves, petiole unarmed. Flower: Large, woody spathe without groves. Fruit: Brownish yellow, up to 1.6 inches long (4 cm). ovoid. Drought tolerant, and some frost tolerance. Requirements: Full sun, fast draining soil, do not water overhead.

Acaulescent, or with trunk 1-2 m tall, 10-20 cm in diam.; sheathing base about 20 cm long, petiole 45-48 cm long, margins mostly with short spines interspersed with fibers; rachis of leaf 57-93 cm long; pinnae 40-42 on each side, regularly arranged, middle ones 45-55 cm long, 0.8-1.5 cm wide, mostly with acute, asymmetrical tips; expanded part of spathe 40-60 cm long, 4-8 cm wide, smooth or striate, brownish-pubescent at first, becoming glabrous with age; branched part of spadix 35-38 cm long, rachillae 38-43, each 20-23 em long; pistillate flowers ovoid, 10-16 mm long, 6-9 mm in diam.; lower staminate flowers 8-13 mm long, upper ones 4-7 mm long; mature fruit ovoid 3.0-3.7 cm long, 2.1-2.3 cm in diam., beak conspicuous, angled, persistent perianth 1.51.8 cm high, locules 1-3, mature seeds not seen. Editing by edric. (S.F. Glassman. 1979)

Comments and Curiosities

Seed is used for fish bate in native Paraguay.

External Links

• Glossary of Palm Terms
• Pronunciation Key

References

Phonetic spelling of Latin names by Dr. Tom J. Waters, edric.

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos, edric.

Special thanks to palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos, edric.

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