Syagrus smithii

Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs) (SMITH-ee)
Floribunda Palms, Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs) Species: (SMITH-ee)
Synonyms
Chrysallidosperma smithii (1963)
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Babaçu of Goiás

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil North, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Western Amazon region in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. Rather local and not very common in East Ecuador.

Floribunda Palms, Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.

Description

Stem solitary, to 10 m tall, and 5-10 cm in diameter. Leaves 2.5-3.5 m long, with 80-100 pinnae on each side, these inserted in groups and pointing in somewhat different directions, the central ones 40-80 cm long, and 3.0-3.5 cm wide. Inflorescence 75-135 cm long, with 10-30 branches, to 30 cm long. Male flowers ca. 10 mm long. Female flowers 12-13 mm long. Fruit yellow, 6-8 cm long and 3-4 cm in diameter, with the seed triangular in cross-section. (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)/Palmweb.

Some populations of this species from SE Colombia are known to have entire leaves also in the reproductive stage. This has not been observed in Ecuador, but the possibility should be kept in mind. (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a

Comments and Curiosities

Uses: The leaves are used as roofing material (thatch) in temporary huts. Almonds (seeds) are edible and have a very pleasant taste.