Syagrus coronata

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Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs)
coronata (kor-oh-NAH-tah)
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Minas Gerais, Brazil. Photo by Dr. Kelen Soares.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs)
Species:
coronata (kor-oh-NAH-tah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
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Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Licuri Palm, Ouricury Palm.


Habitat and Distribution

Syagrus coronata is found in Brazil Northeast, Brazil Southeast. The Licuri Palm,
Minas Gerais, Brazil. Photo by Dr. Kelen Soares.
Syagrus coronata, is a species of palm tree that plays an important role in the diets of tropical rainforest animals. It is native to eastern Brazil, ranging from the southern part of the state of Pernambuco, into the state of Bahia, south to the Jequitinhonha River in the state of Minas Gerais.

Description

Syagrus coronata reaches 3 to 12 m (9.8 to 39 ft) tall with a crown of attractive, arching, semi-plumose leaves. The leaf bases are persitant, and covered in a white indument, and arranged in roughly 5 spiral rows. The blooms are bright yellow, and the plants bear fruit for most of the year. Licuri palm nuts are the main food source of the Lear's Macaw, making up around 95% of their diet. These nuts can grow to be one inch (2.5 cm) in width. Editing by edric.

Licuri palm is a single-stemmed, palm tree growing 3 - 12 metres tall. The unbranched stem can be 20 - 25cm in diameter; it is slightly thicker in the middle; and is topped by a crown of 15 - 30, attractive, arching, semi-plumose leaves that can be 3 metres long. A very useful plant, widely utilized by the native population. It provides a range of foods and and medicine, plus various materials, including oil, wax and fibre. It is commonly harvested from the wild and the plant is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental.

Culture

Grown as both an ornamental, and for the oil which can be extracted from its seeds, and the wax from its leaves. Easily grown in a sunny position in the tropics and sub-tropics, even on calcarous soils. A plant for the humid tropics and subtropics, growing naturally in areas of seasonal rainfall. Easily grown in a sunny position. Succeeds even in calcareous soils. Found mainly in very fertile soils, even if they are dry and gravelly. A very slow-growing tree. Plants can flower through most of the year.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a deeply shaded position in a nursery seedbed. Germination can be very slow and can take 12 months. When the seedlings are 8 - 12 cm tall, pot them up into individual containers. They grow away slowly and can take a year or more before they are ready to plant out.

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Comments and Curiosities

"This is probably one of the more drought and wind tolerant Syagrus species and one of the few prone to rot if overwatered. It is often used in xeriscape landscaping and is a very attractive species- has a relatively sparse crown of long, arching leaves with stiff, plumosely arranged leaflets that are slight bluish to pale green. The trunk often is ornamentally sculptured with a spiral pattern of old leaf scars (though eventually these fall off and reveal a standard smooth trunk without much in the way of rings). Like all Syagrus, this species has no crownshaft. My palm was done well but is planted in pure clay and browntips a lot- some struggling through long, cold, wet winters in that sloggy soil. Still, pretty hardy. No frost damaged down to 25F." (Geoff Stein)

This very distinctive and attractive Syagrus has leaf bases arranged in 5 spiral rows and petioles with long, flat, spine-like projections. Its mature height is 3 to 12m (10 to 40ft), the trunk is about a foot in diameter, and the stiff leaflets are whiteish beneath and are held erect, giving a very handsome appearance. It is one of the most common palms in its homeland of Brazil, one population having been estimated at half a million individuals, but still rather uncommon in cultivation. subtropical or dry tropical climates suit it best. (RPS.com)

Uses: Fruit - raw. The pulp of the fruit is eaten by local peoples. Fibrous, with a slightly sweet flavour. The fruit is about 26 mm long x 20 mm wide. The oil from the seeds is useful for treating wounds caused by stingrays. The plant is seen as an indicator of fertile soils in the wild. A wax, known as 'licuri wax' is obtained by scraping the leaves. It is used for making torches. An oil obtained from the seed is used for making soap. The dried leaves are used for making dusters, hats, brooms etc. The seeds are used in making rosaries. The wood is moderately heavy, hard, of low durability when exposed to the elements. It is only used locally for building construction. Leaves - cooked. The apical bud, often known as a 'palm heart', is eaten as a vegetable. Eating this bud leads to the death of the tree because it is unable to make side shoots. The seed is sometimes eaten. A non-drying oil is obtained from the seed. It is used to make margarine. The pith of the stem is used to make bread.

Conservation: The destruction of small seedlings by cattle poses a threat to the plants, primarily through the destruction of concentrated groves. Those groves are vital to the Lear's Macaw.



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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