Syagrus comosa

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Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs)
comosa (koh-MOH-sah)
18660910276 f422017906 o.jpg
Estação Ecológica do Jardim Botânico, Brasília, Brasil. Photo by Dr. Mauricio Mercadante.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs)
Species:
comosa (koh-MOH-sah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
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Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Coco Babao, Bitter Palm, Camargo, coconut-bitter

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central.
Palmetum, Townsville, QLD, 16/10/14 Photo by Russell Cumming.
Open areas in the savannah, especially on rocky slopes. Endemic to the central eastern cerrado region of Brazil where it grows in areas of low scrubby vegetation. This area is characterized by a dry monsoonal climate, but it has a high water table, so it can flood quickly.

Description

A medium/tall thickset solitary palm with dark green, semi-plumose leaves, growing to about 10 metres.

Syagrus comosa is a single-stemmed, palm growing 1 - 7 metres tall. The unbranched stem can be 6 - 12 cm in diameter; it is often covered with persistant petiole bases; and is topped by a crown of 6 - 12 leaves that can each be 1.5 metres long. Fruit; the light green, ellipsoid fruits can be up to 3 cm long and 2 cm wide. (Andrew J. Henderson Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas) Editing by edric.

Culture

Plants are likely to be able to tolerate at least light frosts. Grows best in a sunny position. Prefers a moist, well drained soil. Established plants are drought tolerant. A slow growing plant.

Comments and Curiosities

Uses: The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its edible fruit. The apical bud is bitter and stomachic. It is used as an aid to digestion. The fruit pulp is diuretic and mucilaginous. The roasted seeds are used as a treatment for diarrhoea.

A highly ornamental palm from rocky savannas on the Planalto Brasileiro, the high plateaux in central and eastern Brasil, where it is becoming increasingly rare and endangered due to alteration of its natural habitat. S. comosa will grow a very slender trunk, densely covered in persistent leafbases, to 6 m (20 ft.) tall, and carrying a smallish crown of robust, slightly plumose leaves with wide, leathery leaflets. While still nearly unknown in cultivation, mainly due to the lack of seeds, we think this small palm has great potential as a palm for our urban landscapes, wether indoors or out. (RPS.com)



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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