Euterpe sp. 'espiritosantensis'

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Cultivated individuals at the Hermínio Simões palm collection and nursery, in Guaratiba, RJ

One of the most impressive looking palm species in Rio de Janeiro is the solitary "palmito vermelho" from the mountainous habitat in the Southeast Atlantic forest. Some authors still consider this species as a variety of Euterpe edulis with less number of fronds (9 to 14) and with a distinctive orangeish 1 meter long crownshaft. This species is endemic to a small habitat area, in Espírito Santo State, between 700 and 1000 m altitude and it tolerates (and prefers) cooler winters. Authors in Brazil (Fernandes, Lorenzi) now consider it as a separate species.