Difference between revisions of "Attalea crassispatha"

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Attalea crassispatha has a single stem which grows up to 20 metres (66 ft) tall. The stem is grey, up to 35 centimetres (14 in) in diameter, and can be columnar, or slightly swollen at the base of the middle of the stem. Individuals bear 15 to 19 pinnately compound leaves—leaves in which rows of leaflets emerge on either side of the axis of the leaf in a feather-like or fern-like pattern—with 127 to 165 pairs of leaflets. Leaves consist of a leaf sheath which wraps around the trunk, a rachis, from which the leaflets emerge, and a petiole, which connects the leaf sheath with the rachis. The leaf sheath is open (it does not wrap completely around the stem); when the leaf is shed, the leaf sheath detached cleanly from the stem. The sheath and petiole combined are 1.3 to 1.35 m (4 ft 3 in to 4 ft 5 in) long, while the rachis is 3.2 to 4 m (10 to 13 ft) long.
 
Attalea crassispatha has a single stem which grows up to 20 metres (66 ft) tall. The stem is grey, up to 35 centimetres (14 in) in diameter, and can be columnar, or slightly swollen at the base of the middle of the stem. Individuals bear 15 to 19 pinnately compound leaves—leaves in which rows of leaflets emerge on either side of the axis of the leaf in a feather-like or fern-like pattern—with 127 to 165 pairs of leaflets. Leaves consist of a leaf sheath which wraps around the trunk, a rachis, from which the leaflets emerge, and a petiole, which connects the leaf sheath with the rachis. The leaf sheath is open (it does not wrap completely around the stem); when the leaf is shed, the leaf sheath detached cleanly from the stem. The sheath and petiole combined are 1.3 to 1.35 m (4 ft 3 in to 4 ft 5 in) long, while the rachis is 3.2 to 4 m (10 to 13 ft) long.
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The inflorescences are born among the leaves. They are either predominantly male, or have a mixture of male and female flowers. The inflorescence consists of a main axis—the peduncle and the rachis—and a series of smaller branches, the rachillae. The rachillae, which bear the flowers, emerge from the rachis. The peduncle is the main stalk, connecting the rachis with the stem. The peduncle, the main stalk of the inflorescence, is no more than 20 cm (7.9 in) long and up to 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter. The rachis is up to 40 cm (16 in) while the rachillae, which can number in the hundreds, reach a length of about 15 cm (5.9 in). The fruit is reddish when ripe. The seeds, which are about 2 cm (0.79 in) long and 2 cm (0.79 in) in diameter are covered by a 5 millimetres (0.20 in) mesocarp and a 3 mm (0.12 in) endocarp.
+
The inflorescences are born among the leaves. They are either predominantly male, or have a mixture of male and female flowers. The inflorescence consists of a main axis—the peduncle and the rachis—and a series of smaller branches, the rachillae. The rachillae, which bear the flowers, emerge from the rachis. The peduncle is the main stalk, connecting the rachis with the stem. The peduncle, the main stalk of the inflorescence, is no more than 20 cm (7.9 in) long and up to 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter. The rachis is up to 40 cm (16 in) while the rachillae, which can number in the hundreds, reach a length of about 15 cm (5.9 in). The fruit is reddish when ripe. The seeds, which are about 2 cm (0.79 in) long and 2 cm (0.79 in) in diameter are covered by a 5 millimetres (0.20 in) mesocarp and a 3 mm (0.12 in) endocarp. (Dr.'s Andrew J. Henderson & Michael Balick)
 
==Culture==
 
==Culture==
 
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b
 
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b

Revision as of 01:26, 8 November 2014

Attalea (at-tahl-EH-ah)
crassispatha (krahs-see-SPAH-tah)

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Scientific Classification
Genus: Attalea (at-tahl-EH-ah)
Species:
crassispatha (krahs-see-SPAH-tah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
America.gif
Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Carossier oil palm, Kowos, Kawosie.

Habitat and Distribution

SW. Haiti. Attalea crassispatha is endemic to the southern peninsula of Haiti, where approximately 25–30 individual palms are thought to survive. It is the only member of the subtribe Attaleinae native to the Greater Antilles. The species is restricted to four localities within two major watersheds, the Cavaillon and Côtes-de-Fer, where it grows from sea level to 450 m in elevation. (cmsdata.iucn.org) [[]]

Description

Attalea crassispatha (Mart.) Burret is a tall (to 20 m), solitary palm bearing a dense crown of pinnate leaves, each leaf up to 5 m long and bearing up to 165 pairs of leaflets. Overall, the palm can resemble a robust coconut palm. The inflorescence bears a thick, woody, furrowed peduncular bract. The staminate flowers bear three lance-shaped petals that are not fused together at their bases and eight or nine stamens. The anthers are curled and shorter than the petals. The fruits are egg-shaped, about 3 cm long. Each fruit has a hard stone (endocarp) enclosing a single seed. (cmsdata.iucn.org) Editing by edric.

Attalea crassispatha has a single stem which grows up to 20 metres (66 ft) tall. The stem is grey, up to 35 centimetres (14 in) in diameter, and can be columnar, or slightly swollen at the base of the middle of the stem. Individuals bear 15 to 19 pinnately compound leaves—leaves in which rows of leaflets emerge on either side of the axis of the leaf in a feather-like or fern-like pattern—with 127 to 165 pairs of leaflets. Leaves consist of a leaf sheath which wraps around the trunk, a rachis, from which the leaflets emerge, and a petiole, which connects the leaf sheath with the rachis. The leaf sheath is open (it does not wrap completely around the stem); when the leaf is shed, the leaf sheath detached cleanly from the stem. The sheath and petiole combined are 1.3 to 1.35 m (4 ft 3 in to 4 ft 5 in) long, while the rachis is 3.2 to 4 m (10 to 13 ft) long. The inflorescences are born among the leaves. They are either predominantly male, or have a mixture of male and female flowers. The inflorescence consists of a main axis—the peduncle and the rachis—and a series of smaller branches, the rachillae. The rachillae, which bear the flowers, emerge from the rachis. The peduncle is the main stalk, connecting the rachis with the stem. The peduncle, the main stalk of the inflorescence, is no more than 20 cm (7.9 in) long and up to 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter. The rachis is up to 40 cm (16 in) while the rachillae, which can number in the hundreds, reach a length of about 15 cm (5.9 in). The fruit is reddish when ripe. The seeds, which are about 2 cm (0.79 in) long and 2 cm (0.79 in) in diameter are covered by a 5 millimetres (0.20 in) mesocarp and a 3 mm (0.12 in) endocarp. (Dr.'s Andrew J. Henderson & Michael Balick)

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b

Comments and Curiosities

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Natural history: Little is known of the natural history of Attalea crassispatha, as so much of its natural habitat has been altered by grazing livestock, fire and farming. Its natural habitat is seasonally dry forest, but much of the forest cover is now absent. Nevertheless, Attalea crassispatha persists and can reproduce in anthropomorphic habitats, if given an opportunity. Most adult palms currently occur as isolated individuals. Aspects of their biotic interactions are unknown. (cmsdata.iucn.org)

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 palm is used locally as a natural boundary marker or landmark. Children eat the soft, immature endosperm of the seeds. The immature endosperm has a flavor similar to coconut. (cmsdata.iucn.org)



  • IMAGE GALLERY

  • Attalea crassispatha growing in an ex situ collection at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, Florida. Photo by Dr. Scott Zona/Palmweb.

  • Image-Dr.'s Andrew J. Henderson & Michael Balick.

  • Image-Dr.'s Andrew J. Henderson & Michael Balick.

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).

Henderson, A. & M. Balik. 1991. Attalea crassispatha, a rare and endemic Haitian palm. Brittonia 43: 189–194.


Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.

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