Syagrus vagans

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Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs)
vagans (VAH-gahns)
Mucugê 027.JPG
Northeastern Caatinga. Photo: Tanhaçu- Bahia- Mauricio Caixeta.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs)
Species:
vagans (VAH-gahns)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
America.gif
Morphology
Habit: Clustering
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Ariri

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil Northeast, and
Northeastern Caatinga. Photo: Tanhaçu- Bahia- Mauricio Caixeta.
Brazil Southeast. Found in dry scrubland (caatinga) in the eastern Brazilian state of Bahia, at elevations above 250 metres. Sandy and gravelly soils, occasionally on lateritic soils, at elevations from 250 - 900 metres. A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations above 250 metres.

Description

Ariri is an, stemless palm (acaulescent) producing a cluster of subterranean stems and growing up to 3 metres tall. The stems are topped by crowns of 10 - 30 stiffly erect leaves, which can each be up to 3 metres long. (Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas by Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.) Editing by edric.

Culture

Propagation by seed - cuttings of the rhizomes. Established plants can tolerate some frost. Prefers a sunny position in a sandy, well drained soil. The plant is drought and frost tolerant.

Comments and Curiosities

A short, edible palm with 1-1 1/2" fruits. The fruits are mildly sweet, with a pleasant flavor, though the palm is quite rare and is mainly prized as an ornamental.

Uses: Fruit - raw. A fibrous, succulent flesh with a sweet, pleasant flavour. The fruit is up to 35mm long by 25mm wide. The edible fruit is often gathered from the wild and consumed locally, whilst the leaves are also used for thatching, and for weaving hats. The plant is very rarely seen in cultivation. (Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas by Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.)

A rare, stemless species from dry scrubland in eastern Brazil with very leathery, stiffly ascending, dark green leaves. (RPS.com)

An acaulescent (stemless) palm with very tough, leathery, upright, dark green, glaucous leaves that get to about 2 m tall.

The fruit pulp is edible with a sweet, pleasant flavor, and is often consumed locally.



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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