Geonoma stricta
Geonoma (geo-NO-muh) stricta (STRICK-tah) | |||||||
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Crique Boulanger, French Guiana. Geonoma stricta var. stricta. Photo by Pierre-Olivier ALBANO. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Brazil North, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Description
Palm 1.8 (0.4-4.0) m tall; stems 1.4 (0.2-5.0) m tall, 0.7 (0.3-1.6) cm in diameter, solitary or clustering, not cane-like; internodes 3.0 (0.4-8.4) cm long, yellowish and smooth. Leaves 8 (4-17) per stem, undivided or irregularly pinnate, not plicate, bases of blades running diagonally into the rachis; sheaths 8.9 (1.0-22.0) cm long; petioles 12.9 (1.0-58.0) cm long, drying green or yellowish; rachis 29.6 (10.1-75.8) cm long, 2.6 (0.9-6.0) mm in diameter; veins raised and rectangular in cross-section adaxially or not raised or slightly raised and triangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 2 (1-12) per side of rachis; basal pinna 20.4 (8.0-38.0) cm long, 3.4 (0.6-11.4) cm wide, forming an angle of 40 (9-112)° with the rachis; apical pinna 2.6 (3.2-38.5) cm long, 10.3 (1.5-23.5) cm wide, forming an angle of 34 (14-50)° with the rachis. Inflorescences unbranched or branched 1 order; prophylls and peduncular bracts not ribbed with elongate, unbranched fibers, flattened, deciduous or persistent; prophylls 6.8 (0.7-21.3) cm long, not short and asymmetrically apiculate, the surfaces not ridged, without unequally wide ridges; peduncular bracts 0.6 (0.1?9.6) cm long, vestigial, the prophyll three times or more long, sometimes the peduncular bract apparently well-developed but then soon disintegrating, inserted 1.8 (0.1 ? 9.5) cm above the prophyll; peduncles 5.0 (0.5-17.0) cm long, 3.2 (1.3-6.1) mm in diameter; rachillae 1 (1-7), 12.7 (1.5-37.0) cm long, 5.4 (1.2-15.1) mm in diameter, the surfaces with spiky, fibrous projections or ridges, drying brown or yellow-brown, without short, transverse ridges, not filiform and not narrowed between the flower pits; flower pits spirally arranged, glabrous internally; proximal lips without a central notch before anthesis, not recurved after anthesis, not hood-shaped; proximal and distal lips drying the same color as the rachillae, not joined to form a raised cupule, the proximal lip margins overlapping the distal lip margins; distal lips well-developed; staminate and pistillate petals not emergent, not valvate throughout; staminate flowers persistent or deciduous after anthesis; stamens 6; thecae diverging at anthesis, inserted onto bifid and well-developed, non-jointed connectives; anthers short and curled over at anthesis; non-fertilized pistillate flowers persistent after anthesis; staminodial tubes crenulate or shallowly lobed at the apex, those of non-fertilized pistillate flowers not projecting and persistent after anthesis; fruits 8.6 (5.9-14.5) mm long, 5.6 (4.0-7.3) mm in diameter, the bases without a prominent stipe, the apices not conical, the surfaces not splitting at maturity, without fibers emerging, ridged from the numerous, subepidermal, meridional, elongate fibers present, these coming to a point at fruit apices; locular epidermis without operculum, smooth, without pores. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.
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Taxonomic notes: - Geonoma stricta is a member of the G. stricta clade, within which it is most closely related to G. aspidiifolia, G. oligoclona, and G. santanderensis. It differs from these three species in several character states, most obviously in its yellowish and smooth internodes. It is an extremely complicated species, treated in the past as either one species with several varieties (e.g., Henderson, 1995) or several species (e.g., Wessels Boer, 1968). Henderson and Martins (2002), in a morphometric study of this species, concluded that the varietal classification proposed by Henderson (1995) was not supported. However, these authors used only quantitative variables. With more specimens, and an analysis of both quantitative variables and qualitative traits, as well as geography, some resolution is possible, as discussed below. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. Subspecific variation: - Six traits (stem branching, stem type, leaf division, adaxial veins, inflorescence branching, staminate flowers) vary within this species. For stem type, only one of 390 specimens is scored as not cane-like, and this and stem branching and leaf division are not used in the following analyses. There is no correspondence between geography and the three remaining traits (adaxial veins, inflorescence branching, staminate flowers). Geonoma stricta is widespread across the Amazon region and beyond. However, there are gaps in its distribution, and G. stricta occurs in four separate areas?the Pacific coast of Colombia (Chocó), the Central Cordillera in Colombia (Antioquia), the central and western Amazon region and adjacent sub-Andean regions, and the Guianas and adjacent Brazil (Amapá). Specimens from these four regions are analyzed separately. There are only three specimens from the Pacific coast of Colombia (Chocó), too few to test for differences. However, these differ from the nearest other G. stricta population in the Central Cordillera in Colombia, in their shorter interbract distances (0.1-0.2 cm versus 1.2-1.3 cm) and narrower rachillae (3.1?4.5 mm versus 4.8?7.4 mm). They also occur at lower elevations, 97 (50-150) m versus 852 (700-1075) m. Based on these differences, and geographic separation, these specimens are recognized as a separate subspecies (subsp. quibdoensis). There are only six specimens from the Central Cordillera in Colombia (Antioquia), too few to test for differences. Based on their geographic isolation, and differences from subsp. quibdoensis, they are recognized as a separate subspecies (subsp. antioquiensis).In central and western Amazon regions and adjacent sub-Andean regions, Geonoma stricta is abundant, widespread, and extremely variable. In sub-Andean regions of Peru (Amazonas, Loreto, Huánuco, Pasco, Ucayali) there are specimens with branched inflorescences (these occur rarely in other areas). One subgroup of these, from Huánuco and Pasco, has leaves with raised adaxial veins, and this is recognized as a subspecies (subsp. submontana). The remaining specimens, with non-raised adaxial veins, can be divided into three subgroups, one from Amazonas with mostly undivided leaves and pendulous inflorescences; one from Amazonas and Loreto with pinnate leaves and erect inflorescences; and one from Huánuco, Pasco, and Ucayali with pinnate leaves and erect inflorescences. ANOVA shows that for pair wise comparison probabilities, 13 variables (stem diameter, internode length, petiole length, rachis length, rachis width, number of pinnae, basal pinna width, basal pinna angle, apical pinna width, peduncle length, peduncle width, rachilla length, rachilla width) differ significantly (P <0.05) between one pair of subgroups, and one (prophyll length) differs amongst all three subgroups. Based on these results, these three subgroups are recognized as subspecies (subspp. bracteata, divaricata, pendula).The remaining specimens from the central and western Amazon region and eastern Andean slopes in Ecuador cannot be divided into consistent groups based on traits or geography. Adaxial veins are difficult to score in several cases; inflorescences are seldom branched, but both branched and unbranched ones can occur on the same plant; and staminate flower persistence is also difficult to score. For these reasons, these specimens are recognized as one subspecies (subsp. arundinacea). In the Guianas and adjacent Brazil (Amapá) there are two subgroups of specimens, one with pinnate leaves and raised adaxial veins and the other with undivided (rarely pinnate) leaves and non-raised adaxial veins. There are only four specimens of the subgroup with pinnate leaves and raised adaxial veins, too few to test for differences. However, this subgroup is geographically isolated from the other, and the two are recognized as subspecies (subsp. stricta, pliniana). (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. |
Culture
Comments and Curiosities
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There are nine subspecies; 1.) Geonoma stricta subsp. antioquiensis, Brazil North, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. From 5°42-7°05'N and 74°44-74°58'W in the Central Cordillera in Colombia (Antioquia) at 852(700-1075) m elevation in lowland rainforest. Leaves undivided; veins not raised or slightly raised and triangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 1 per side of rachis. Inflorescences unbranched; staminate flowers deciduous after anthesis. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. 2.) Geonoma stricta subsp. arundinacea, Bolivia, Brazil North, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. From 2°30'N-17°50'S and 49°32-78°42'W in the western Amazon region of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil and eastern Andean slopes in Ecuador, at 416 (75-1850) m elevation in lowland or montane rainforest. Leaves undivided or pinnate; veins raised and rectangular in cross-section adaxially, or not raised or slightly raised and triangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 2 (1-12) per side of rachis. Inflorescences unbranched or branched; staminate flowers deciduous or persistent after anthesis. This is a widespread and extremely variable subspecies which can be divided into various morphotypes, mostly based on leaf size and shape. In the western Amazon basin of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil there is a morphotype (arundinacea) with undivided or pinnate leaves with non-raised adaxial veins and unbranched or branched inflorescences with deciduous staminate flowers. In some cases specimens approach those of the trailii morphotype and are only distinguished by their non-raised adaxial veins. For example, in Yasuni National Park in Amazonian Ecuador, there are two forms of this morphotype. One has smaller leaves and branched inflorescences, the other larger leaves and unbranched inflorescences. The latter exactly resemble trailii in their leaves, except for the non-raised veins. There are no specimens of trailii from Yasuni, but it occurs just to the west of the Park. There may be introgression between arundinacea and trailii in this area. A specimen (Vásquez 7413) from Amazonian Peru has an exceptionally long rachilla. On eastern Andean foothills and in the western Amazon region in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru there is a morphotype (elevata) with small, undivided leaves with narrow basal angles and raised adaxial veins and unbranched inflorescences with persistent staminate flowers. Inflorescences are usually pendulous. In the western Amazon region in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil there is a morphotype (minor) with small, undivided, rarely pinnate leaves and unbranched inflorescences with deciduous staminate flowers. Veins are difficult to score in this morphotype. In the western Amazon region in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil there is a morphotype (piscicauda) with large, undivided leaves with narrow basal angles and raised adaxial veins. Inflorescences are unbranched and often pendulous, and have persistent staminate flowers. The types of G. piscicauda and G. wittiana are of this morphotype. On eastern Andean foothills in Ecuador at 1217 (825-1600) m elevation there is a morphotype (puyo) with pinnate leaves and branched or unbranched inflorescences with deciduous staminate flowers. Veins are difficult to score in this morphotype, and there seem to be several local variants. Some specimens (Balslev 6419, Cerón 6552, 7454, Harling 3762, Øllgaard 98478) have exceptionally long inflorescences. A widespread morphotype (pycnostachys, Plates XX, XXI) occurs in the central and western Amazon region in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. It has mostly undivided leaves with the veins not raised adaxially, and unbranched inflorescences with persistent staminate flowers. The type of G. pycnostachys is of this morphotype. Several specimens from the central Amazon region (Campos 519, Cid 545, Henderson 662, 1043, 1066, Nee 42341, 42897) are more similar to subsp. stricta in their small leaves than they are to other, more westerly specimens of pycnostachys. However, small-leaved pycnostachys also occur sporadically in the western Amazon region. Specimens (Díaz 7327, Kajekai 300, Rodríguez 261, 568, Rojas 592, Vásquez 18741, 20286, 24195, 24322) from southeastern Ecuador and northwestern Peru (Amazonas) have exceptionally large leaves, thick rachillae, and large fruits. Specimens from eastern Andean slopes in Ecuador have pinnate leaves with few divisions. Some specimens (e.g., Lewis 10332, Vásquez 14439, and probably several others) appear to be hybrids between this and the trailii morphotype, and others appear to be hybrids between this and the piscicauda morphotype. In the central and western Amazon region of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, with outliers in the central Amazon of Brazil and in Bolivia, there is a morphotype (trailii) with pinnate leaves with raised adaxial veins and unbranched inflorescences with deciduous staminate flowers. The types of Geonoma elegans var. amazonica, Geonoma trauniana, Geonoma dasystachys, and Geonoma bella are of this morphotype. The two outlying specimens in Bolivia occur in the same area as outlying specimens of the tapajotensis morphotype of G. macrostachys. As in the pycnostachys morphotype, specimens from southeastern Ecuador and northwestern Peru (Amazonas) have exceptionally large inflorescences. In the southwestern Amazon region in Peru and Brazil there is a morphotype (uleana) with undivided or pinnate leaves with non-raised adaxial veins and unbranched inflorescences with deciduous staminate flowers. It has longer peduncular bracts - 3.5 (2.7-4.7) versus 0.5 (0.1-4.0) cm - than other morphotypes. The type of G. uleana is of this morphotype. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. 3.) Geonoma stricta subsp. bracteata, Peru. From 9°03-10°12'S and 74°47-75°30'W on eastern Andean slopes in central Peru (Huánuco, Pasco, Ucayali) at 542(320-800) m elevation in lowland rainforest. Leaves pinnate; veins not raised or slightly raised and triangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 3(3-4) per side of rachis. Inflorescences branched; staminate flowers deciduous after anthesis. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. 4.)Geonoma stricta subsp. divaricata, Peru. From 4°28-5°24'S and 77°20-78°30'W on eastern Andean slopes in northern Peru (Amazonas, Loreto) at 510(170-950) m elevation in lowland rainforest. Leaves pinnate; veins not raised or slightly raised and triangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 3(3-4) per side of rachis. Inflorescences branched; staminate flowers deciduous after anthesis. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. 5.) Geonoma stricta subsp. pendula, Peru. From 4°29-4°45'S and 77°58-78°14'W in the northwestern Amazon region of Peru (Amazonas) at 310(250-400) m elevation in lowland rainforest. Leaves undivided or pinnate; veins not raised or slightly raised and triangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 1(1-2) per side of rachis. Inflorescences branched; staminate flowers deciduous after anthesis. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. 6.) Geonoma stricta subsp. pliniana, From 3°45-5°17'N and 51°48-53°03'W in the northeastern Amazon region of French Guiana and Brazil (Amapá) at 53(5-100) m elevation in coastal, terra firme forests. Leaves pinnate; veins raised and rectangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 3 per side of rachis. Inflorescences unbranched; staminate flowers deciduous after anthesis. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. 7.) Geonoma stricta subsp. quibdoensis, Colombia. From 5°35-5°50'N and 76°35-76°37'W on the Pacific coast of Colombia (Chocó) at 96(50-150) m elevation in lowland rainforest. Leaves undivided; veins not raised or slightly raised and triangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 1 per side of rachis. Inflorescences unbranched; staminate flowers deciduous after anthesis. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. 8.) Geonoma stricta subsp. stricta, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. From 2°20-7°10'N and 52°50-58°50'W in the northeastern Amazon region of Suriname and French Guiana, with an outlying specimen in Guyana, at 373(100-800) m elevation in lowland rainforest. Leaves undivided, rarely pinnate; veins not raised or slightly raised and triangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 1(1-3) per side of rachis. Inflorescences unbranched, rarely branched; staminate flowers deciduous after anthesis, rarely persistent. Two specimens from French Guiana (de Granville 4803, Le Prieur s. n.) are unusual in having branched inflorescences with 2-3, stouter rachillae, and one has a pinnate leaf (the only one in this subspecies). Theyn are recognized as the neglecta morphotype. One of these specimens (Le Prieur s. n.) has "Geonoma neglecta" written, in Trail's hand-writing, on the label. This specimen was illustrated by Wessels Boer (1968, plate V) and determined by him as G. bartlettii. However, the type of that name was destroyed and it is treated here as an excluded name. Two specimens from Suriname (Sastre 1567, Wessels Boer 1558), with larger leaves and inflorescences with persistent staminate flowers appear more like those of the pycnostachys morphotype of subsp. arundinacea. These are recognized as the large morphotype. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. 9.) Geonoma stricta subsp. submontana, Peru. From 9°50-10°18'S and 75°12-75°15'W on eastern Andean foothills in central Peru (Huánuco, Pasco) at 437(350-760) m elevation in lowland rainforest. Leaves undivided or pinnate; veins raised and rectangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 1(1-2) per side of rachis. Inflorescences branched; staminate flowers deciduous after anthesis. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. |
Uses: Leaves are used for thatch, to tap baskets, and for wrapping. Stems are used for walking sticks. The palms heart is chewed to protect teeth from rotting. Seeds are used in blowguns to shoot small birds. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb.
- IMAGE GALLERY
- Colombia Geonoma.jpg
This Geonoma specimen was found up river of Leticia, Colombia in April, 1972. It was idendified as G. pycnostachys, which Kew places in synonomy under G. stricta var. arundinacea. Photo by Brad.
- Colombia Geonoma 2.jpg
This Geonoma specimen was found up river of Leticia, Colombia in April, 1972. It was idendified as G. pycnostachys, which Kew places in synonomy under G. stricta var. arundinacea. Photo by Brad.
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).
Henderson, A.J. 2011. A revision of Geonoma. Magnolia Press.
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.