Butia witeckii

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Butia (BOO-tee-ah)
witeckii (wih-TEHK-ee)
3827741754 78c6b2cd68.jpg
Santa Maria Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Photo by Dr. Kelen Soares.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Butia (BOO-tee-ah)
Species:
witeckii (wih-TEHK-ee)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
America.gif
Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Butia witeckii is native to the central region of Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil.

Júlio de Castilhos, Quebra Dentes, RS, Brazil. Photo by Dr. Kellen Soares.

In Rio Grande do Sul occurs in the municipalities of Quevedos, Julio de Castillos, São Pedro do Sul and São Martinho da Serra, along the Rio Toropi; inhabits altitudes between 300 and 370m, always growing in soils shallow, stony, in the open, with sparse vegetation or associated with some pioneer shrub-tree species (Soares & Longhi 2011).

The palm occurs naturally in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, in the municipalities of Júlio de Castillos, São Martinho da Serra, Quevedos, São Pedro do Sul toward Cruz Alta. The plant is very threatened by the expansion of agricultural areas in which entails the removal of many mature plants. Already livestock prevents regeneration of the species. (From the portuguese)

Description

Palm of 3.0 to 6.5 meters tall with stems solitary. It has bright green leaves in the number of 14-25, with rachis leaves often twisted due to wind action. The fruits are large with 3.6 to 5.6 cm long and 3.0 to 4.1 cm in width and 23.61 to 43.05 grams in weight, yellow or greenish-yellow when ripe, has very nice flavor but is quite fibrous. The endocarp or seed (coconuts) has 3 longitudinal edges, giving a pyramid shape on the pole so germination, their size varies from 2.7 to 3.5 cm long by 1.6 to 2.3 cm wide, with 3.43 to 10.11 grams. The fruit and endocarp are the largest among Butiá palms and can be compared to the species Parajubaea torally. The coconuts of this kind are not attacked by borers often attack other species of the genus Butia. Fruits in mid-March through April. (K. Soares & S. Longhi) (From the portuguese) Editing by edric.



Culture

Mature fruits in March April. Seeds germinate after one year. Slow grower.

Comments and Curiosities



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.

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