Attalea geraensis

Attalea (at-tahl-EH-ah) geraensis (JEHR-ehn-siss)
Help to make this reference box better by uploading a representative photo of this palm.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Attalea (at-tahl-EH-ah) Species: geraensis (JEHR-ehn-siss)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Coquinho cerrado, or Catolé Indaiá Field palm

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil Northeast, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, and Paraguay. Tropical Dry Forest. Native dos Campos and Shrublands across Brazil. Tocantins, Bahia to São Paulo state. [[]]

Description

Acaulescent palm (underground stem that rarely emerges even 1 meter above soil), caespitose (forming clumps), crown to 2.5 m in diameter. The leaves are basal, curved and bright, with rachis measuring 1.4 to 2.3 m long, with 75-79 pairs of pinnae or leaflets decreasing to the apex; the leaflets of the base measure 50 cm long by 7 mm wide, the middle 40 cm long by 2.5 c mwide. The inflorescence is protected by a sheath (a type of modified leaf) woody and deeply grooved in the longitudinal direction, about 30 cm long by 2.5 4 cm in diameter; composed of staminodes (stamen or modified, sterile tube) androgynous, i.e. they have both sexes on the same plant or on different individuals. The female flowers are arranged in two rows along the branches, measuring approximately 2 cm diameter when opened. The male flower measures 1 cm in length. (From the Portuguese) Editing by edric.

Culture

Soil; red or sandy soils that are acidic (pH between 4.0 - 5.3) that drain well; with natural fertility formed by the decomposition of leaves and grass. Plant is resistant to drought and frost up to -3 degrees C. Can be grown from sea level up to 950 m altitude.

Each fruit has up to 3 seeds. "Coconuts" can be buried directly in the ground 5 cm depth at a spacing of 3 x 3 m. In this case the seeds take up to two years to germinate. Another way is to remove the kernels from the fibrous husk and plant in sandy substrate. Germination occurs in 90 to 120 days, and the seedlings grow slowly reaching 30 cm At 18 months of age. (From the Portuguese)