Syagrus petraea

Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs) petraea (PEH-treh)
Scientific Classification
Genus: Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs) Species: petraea (PEH-treh)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Coco de vassoura, ariri (Brazil)

Habitat and Distribution

Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast,

Coco de vassoura, ariri (Brazil) Photo by Gileno Machado.

Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Paraguay. Sandy to red clay soils, under planted Pine forest and in savannah. A locally abundant palm, growing in sandy to red clay soils, under planted Pine forest and in cerrado (savannah-like vegetation) in Brazil, eastern Bolivia and Paraguay. (Gileno Machado)

Description

Syagrus petraea is an acaulescent palm growing up to 1.5 metres tall. It produces one or more short, subterranean stems, each one topped by a crown of 4 - 8 erect leaves that are up to 1.5 metres long. (Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas Dr's. Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.)

A small solitary or clumping palm, with a short and or acaulescent trunk, up to 1.5 m tall. It has pinnate leaves up to 1 m long that are bluish-green above, and satiny whitish underneath. This species is native to Brazil’s cerrado (savannah-like vegetation). It is very common, but it is not cultivated. Stems are solitary or clustered, short and subterranean, 1.0–1.5 m tall. Leaves bluish-green above, satiny whitish on the lower surface.

Seeds are very difficult to obtain, because insects and rodents predate most of them.(Gileno Machado)

Culture

Sunny, well drained position, sandy soil. Drought and probably frost tolerant. Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a (Gileno Machado)

The plant is probably tolerant of occasional light frosts. Grows best in a sunny position. Prefers a well drained, sandy soil. Established plants are drought tolerant. With its subterranean stems, the plant is often able to regrow after a forest fire.

Comments and Curiosities

Although very common, it is not often grown. Insects and rodents eat most of the seeds, so they are rarely available. (Gileno Machado)

Uses: The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of leaves for brooms and basketry; The leaves are tied together to make brooms. Fruit - raw. The fleshy pulp is sometimes eaten. The green, ellipsoid fruit is up to 3 cm long and 2 cm in diameter.