Difference between revisions of "Attalea crassispatha"

Natural history: Charles Plumier visited the island of Hispaniola in 1689 and published a description of the species in 1703. Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius used Plumier's notes and drawings to give the species a formal Linnaean description in 1884 placing it in the genus Maximiliana. In 1929 Max Burret transferred the species to Attalea. In 1939 O. F. Cook placed the species in a new genus, Bornoa, named for Louis Borno, former President of Haiti. However, Cook did not validly publish it, making the name invalid. Liberty Hyde Bailey kept the species in the genus Attalea. S. F. Glassman considered it close to the genus Orbignya, but suggested that it may represent a new genus. Recent work has favoured maintaining all Attaleinae in a single genus, Attalea. (Dr.'s Andrew J. Henderson & Michael Balick)

Threats to survival: Habitat destruction has had a significant impact on this species. It is likely that changes in forest cover, soil structure and moisture, fire regime, and abundance of native seed dispersal agents have had a negative effect on the natural reproduction of this palm. Regeneration is prevented by livestock grazing on fruits and seedlings and by people, who harvest immature seeds as snacks. Periodic hurricanes, to which the area is prone, are also a threat to the remaining adult palms of this species. A mature individual was toppled by Hurricane Georges in 1998. Confined to the south-west peninsula of Haiti. In 1996, fewer than 30 individuals were found in two adjacent river valleys. (cmsdata.iucn.org)

Current Conservation Measures: IUCN Redlist; Critically Endangered: A large ex situ population of Attalea crassispatha is maintained at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, Florida, USA. It is probably the largest collection of the species in the world. Most of the palms are still too young to flower or fruit. Seeds were also distributed to other botanical gardens in the USA, Central America, and elsewhere. In Haiti, seedlings of Attalea crassispatha were planted on the grounds of public buildings and private residences in 1990, in an effort to develop in-country ex situ collections. Additionally, families with Attalea crassispatha growing on their land were paid to preserve the palm. It is not known if the payments have been sustained. A local NGO, the Fondation Botanique d'Haiti is undertaking a two-year project to investigate the distribution, ecology and conservation status of Attalea crassispatha, with support from Flora & Fauna International. The project will conduct public awareness activities, propagate and distribute of seedlings for out-planting. (cmsdata.iucn.org)

Uses: The seeds of Attalea crassispatha are edible; the flavour is reported to be similar to that of coconut, but it is richer in fats and denser. The nuts are also a good source of cooking oil. The bract is used as a bowl for feeding pigs. The leaves are used for thatch and weaving, but only when the more common fan palms Sabal causiarum and Coccothrinax argentea are unavailable. It is also used as a source of lumber and as a boundary marker between farmers' fields due to its longevity and ability to survive hurricanes. (Timyan, Joel C.; Samuel F. Reep)