Syagrus gouveiana
Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs) gouveiana (goov-ee-AHN-ah) | |||||||
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Found only in the city of Gouveia, MG, Brazil. Photo by Mauricio Moreira Caixeta. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Found only in the city of Gouveia, MG, Brazil.Description
Palm solitary, less than 1 m in height, with a very short or subterranean stem. Leaves arching, with 3–4 in the crown, less than 1 m long and the general coloration medium to light green; sheath 12–26 cm with fibrous margins, pseudopetiole 16–31 cm long; petiole smooth 2–8 cm long; rachis 42–75 cm long; leaflets 30–60 along each side, linear, rigidcoriaceous with apex acute or rounded and asymmetric, concolorous, distributed irregularly in clusters of 2–3 and inserted at different angles along the rachis, basal leaflets measuring 9–26 × 0.2–0.6 cm, middle leaflets 18–25 × 1.2–2.0 cm, apical leaflets 6–14 × 0.3–0.7 cm. Infloresescences erect and spicate to branched; peduncle 17–28 cm long; prophyll 9–17 × 1.5–3.5 cm long; peduncular bract 28–47 cm long, expanded part 14–24 × 4–6 cm; inflorescence axis 8–15 cm long, rachis 0–5 cm, with 1–6 primary branches 5–11 cm long; flowers usually arranged in triads, but frequently arranged in groups of four with two central pistillate flowers each of which is flanked on one side by one staminate flower, both staminate and pistillate flowers frequently have 4 sepals and petals instead of the normal 3, staminate flowers 12–14 × 5–7 mm, sepals 2–3 × less than 1 mm, glabrous, keeled and connate at the base, petals 10 × 3–4 mm with acute tips, nerves indistinct to slightly raised, stamens 4.5–5.0 mm long, anther 4 mm long, filaments 1.5 mm long; basal pistillate flowers elongate conical, glabrous, 13–15 × 5–6 mm (apical flowers ca. 10 × 4 mm), sepals imbricate 14–15 × 5–6 mm, petals glabrous, imbricate at the base but slightly valvate (upper 3–5 mm) at the tips, 11–13 × 4–5 mm, pistil glabrescent, 8–9 × 4–5 mm diam., stigmas 3, 3–4 mm long, staminodial ring ca. 2 mm high and 6-dentate. Fruits globose, yellowish brown, 1.7–2.1 cm diam., with a fibrous-fleshy (pulpy) mesocarp. Endocarp 1.9–2.2 × 1.5–1.7 cm. DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY: Occurs in the state of Minas Gerais in the Cadeia do Espinhaço region, in high altitude campo rupestre or cerrado, generally in well-drained rocky terrain. (Dr. LARRY R. NOBLICK & Dr. HARRI LORENZI 2010) Editing by edric.
Culture
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a
Comments and Curiosities
ETYMOLOGY: Named for the closest town to the place of its discovery, Gouveia, Minas Gerais.
PHENOLOGY: Flowering with some immature fruit in June.
NOTES: A small acaulescent palm with coriaceous, concolorous leaves, usually spicate and sometimes branched inflorescences, often with flowers in groups of 4 instead of the normal triad or with 4 sepals and 4 petals instead of the normal 3, these are characters that set this species apart from anything else in the region. (Dr. LARRY R. NOBLICK & Dr. HARRI LORENZI 2010)
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).
(Dr. LARRY R. NOBLICK & Dr. HARRI LORENZI 2010)
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.