Butia witeckii
Butia (BOO-tee-ah) witeckii (wih-TEHK-ee) | |||||||
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Santa Maria Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Photo by Dr. Kelen Soares. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Butia witeckii is native to the central region of Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil.
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.
Detailed Scientific Description |
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Palm with 3.0 to 6.1 m in height, the stipe lone remaining covered by the sheaths Fallen leaves have occasionally losing this coating with age, but leaving visible scars arranged spirally on around the trunk, this presents 75-110 cm circumference. Sheets number in contemporary 14-25; sheath with 37-50 cm long by 9-13 cm wide, and pseudopetiole (petiole the most visible part of the sheath) with 27-45 cm long and 1.8 to 2.8 cm wide, flat adaxialmente abaxialmente and rounded, armed with slightly curved with teeth 0.5-3.0 cm long, increasing in size towards the stem (base), separated by 0.5-4.5 cm and flattened when coated fibers the leaves are new, losing some of those with long, rachis leaves often twisted in adults due to wind action, 100-170x1 0.2 to 2, 3 cm, containing 43-61 pinnae (Leaflets) uniformly distributed throughout each side; pinas dark green or nearly glaucas in younger subjects, bright, inserted in the same plane and forming a "V" with the pinas divergent across the rachis, those of middle part with 52-66x2 0.3 to 2, 8 cm, all pinas possessing wicks Ramento near the rachis on the midrib at the bottom and summit asymmetrical. Inflorescences interfoliar, involved two bracts, the innermost woody call peduncular bract that protects the entire inflorescence until its opening (flowering), and lightly glaucas, striated along with 118-128 cm total length, including the apex (tip) of up to 2 cm, 50-85 cm length of the expanded portion and 7.8 to 9.7 cm wide, the outer bract, lower Blade, called profilo, fibrous, with 38x5, 3 cm is always hidden in the leaf sheaths; peduncle of the inflorescence and slightly fluted covered by a thin layer of wax when new, 56 to 61.5 with 0.7 to 2 x1, 0 cm; inflorescence rachis light green, branched level of the first order, 49-63 with 66-85 cm long containing rachilles, the middle part of the measuring 21.5 to 38 cm, those of the basal 32-50 cm and the end portion with 14-29 cm long. Flowers unisexual, yellow, located in the lower portion of rachilles in group of three, with a central female flower flanked two male, end portion (upper) rachilles presents the only male flowers; Male flowers with 10.9 mm length, Short pediciladas; pedicel about 1 mm long, 3 sepals triangular distinct connate at the base of the sepals lobes about 2 mm in length, in number of three petals, unequal valved, narrow obovate, glabrous, acute, membranous at the bottom and at the leathery top (apex), with 7-8x2-3 mm, has six stamens dorsifixos separate, 5-6 mm in length, anthers, 2.5-3.5 mm long fillets 3.0-3.7 mm in length, with pistillodes less than 1 mm in length; pistillate more or less oval, sessile with 17-20x10- 13 mm 3 containing 3 sepals and petals imbricated with nervações visible only at the apex, sepals 17x14-14 with 16 mm unequal more or less triangular, gynoecium with 17-18x9-10 mm, petals with 16-19x20-23 mm. Fruits large, with 3,6 - 5.6 x3 0.0 to 4, 1 cm and weight 23.61 to 43.05 g without including the persistent perianth, yellow epicarp or greenish-yellow when ripe; mesocarp light yellow when mature, bittersweet Nice, but very fibrous. Endocarp hard, bone, dark brown and outer surface almost flat, with 0.6 to 2 2.7 to 3.5 x1, 3 cm, 3.43 - 10.11 grams weight (pyrene) when new 3 clearly shows longitudinal edges well protruding, giving a pyramidal shape in endocarp ends (poles), mainly on the germination pores, the pores 3 germination 0.7-1.2 cm distant from the apex and less than 1.6 mm diameter pores generally a little depression in the endocarp, with endocarp 1-3 seeds narrow elliptical when you have 2-3 locules (2-3 seeds) and somewhat more oval when has only one locule (1 seed); endosperm white and homogeneous; germination remote-tubular first eophyll with simple, narrow-lanceolate on the germination pores because the 3 longitudinal edges, the mesocarp is extremely fibrous compared with any other species of the genus, this pattern is maintained same individuals cultivated outside the habitat natural. The height of the fruiting occurs later that most species of Butia in March, April probably require more time to formation of large fruit. Unlike other species, the seeds of Butia witeckii is rarely predated by insects, but is widely sought after by chipmunks (Sciurus ingrami Thomas, 1901). The size average adult individuals is higher and has a length of inflorescence rachis higher that the species Butia paraguayensis. Presents a fewer pinnae (leaflets) on each side of the rachis and pinnae generally wider than Butia yatay, In addition, the fruit epicarp not present red as usually happens in Butia yatay. The plants in nursery has been shown to be slower than the species Butia yatay. (K. Soares & S. Longhi) (From the portuguese) Adult plants with 3-9 (-15) m tall; expanded portion of the peduncular bract 55-85 cm between long, rachis inflorescence 47-72 cm long with Leaves with 43-61 pinnae on each side of the rachis, pinnae of the middle part of the rachis with 40-65 x 2.3 - 2.8 cm; ripe fruit with 3.6 to 5.6 x 3.0 to 4.1 cm, weighing between 23.61 to 43.05 grams; endocarp new fruits 2.8-3.5 x 1.6-2.3 cm and weighing between 3.61 to 10.11 grams (pyrene) with 3 corners Longitudinal visible, giving an almost pyramidal side where the pores are. It is the Butia with largest fruit and endocarp of the genre.............. witeckii (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.