Astrocaryum urostachys
Astrocaryum (ahs-tro-kahr-EE-uhm) urostachys (oo-roh-STAHK-ees) | |||||||
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Museo de Historia Natural San Marcos, Peru. Photo by Dr. Betty Millán. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Colombia, Ecuador, N. Peru. Occurs mainly on poorly drained or seasonally flooded soils mainland Amazonian forest (250–1,000 m). The species is less common in Amazon terra firme forest. Found in the Ecuadorian provinces of Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana and Sucumbios. The species is common in the Parque Nacional Yasuní and the Reserva de Producción Faunística Cuyabeno. It probably also occurs in the Limoncocha and Sumaco-Napo-Galeras protected areas.Description
Caespitose palms; calyx of the pistillate flower glabrate (some bristles are always present), usually longer than 15 mm; fruit with 56 mm long bristles or armed with spines. (scielo.org.pe) Editing by edric.
Culture
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b
Comments and Curiosities
An understorey palm endemic to Ecuador, where it is widely distributed in the Amazon rainforest and common in the Parque Nacional Yasuní and the Reserva de Producción Faunística Cuyabeno. The species probably also occurs in the Limoncocha and Sumaco-Napo-Galeras protected areas. The species prefers habitats with poorly drained or seasonally flooded soils and is less common in Amazon terra firme forest. Because of its asexual reproduction, it is common to find two or three clones growing together. Many authors consider A. urostachys to be a variety of A. murumuru Mart. Apart from habitat destruction, no specific threats are known. (IUCN)
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.