Syagrus microphylla Burret (1933: 111)

Noblick, Larry R., 2017, A revision of the genus Syagrus (Arecaceae), Phytotaxa 294 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

40. Syagrus microphylla Burret (1933: 111) . Type:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Serra do Espinhaço, östlich Monte Chapéo, ca. 1100 m. Auf offenen Landflächen, zum Teil sehr charakteristisch [Serra do Espinhaço, eastern Monte Chapéo, ca. 1100 m. On open flat land, very characteristic to the area], April 1932, E. Werdermann 3366 (holotype destroyed at B). Neotype (designated by Glassman [1977: 66]):— BRAZIL. Bahia: Serra do Tombador, 6 km S of town of Morro do Chapéu, 1100 m elevation, 18 February 1971, H.S. Irwin, R.M. Harley, G.L. Smith 32470 (neotype UB!, isoneotypes MO!, NY!)

Figure 57 plate, Figure 49 map.

Small, solitary, sometimes appearing clustered, unarmed, palms usually less than 50 cm tall. Stem subterranean, appearing acaulescent. Leaves 5–12 in crown, spirally arranged, spreading; sheathing leaf base 10–15 cm long, fibrous; pseudopetiole 20–30(–50) cm long with nearly smooth margins, covered with a brownish tomentum, especially on the abaxial surface; petiole (2–)6–35 × 0.7–1 cm, glaucous waxy; rachis 29–62 cm long covered with a brownish indument; leaflets dark green to bluish-green adaxially, paler abaxially, glaucous on both surfaces, 18– 36 along one side, irregularly distributed in clusters of 2 or 3(–4) in divergent planes; ramenta scales often present where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis, and none along the abaxial midvein; basal leaflets 6.5–16 × 0.1–0.8 cm, middle leaflets 10–22 × (0.8–)1.2–2(–2.3) cm, apical leaflets 8–18 × 0.1–0.6 cm, mostly with acute to asymmetric tips. Inflorescence erect, spirally branched; prophyll 8–17 × 1–2.5 cm; peduncular bract ca. 30–68 cm long, expanded portion 9–40(–47) × (1.5–)2–3.5(–4) cm, bearing a 1–4 cm beak, woody, sulcate, exterior sometimes covered with brownish indument like many other parts of the inflorescence; peduncle ca. (5–)10–50(– 55) cm × 4–6 mm; inflorescence axis 7–18 cm long; rachis 0.5–10 cm long; rachillae (2–)3–13, 4.5–16 cm long at the base, 3–10 cm long near the apex, rachillae bract usually absent or 1–5 mm long; staminate flowers 4–6 mm long at the apex, 5–6.8 × 2.5–4 mm at the base, pale yellow, sepals 0.5–2 × less than 1–2.5 mm, glabrous, no visible venation, petals 4–4.5 mm long at the apex, 5–6 × 1.5–3.2 mm at the base with acute tips, glabrous, nerves indistinct, stamens 2.5–4.5 mm long, anthers 2.4–3.5 mm long, filaments 1–2.5 mm long, pistillode greater than 1 mm; pistillate flowers rounded, 5–7 × 3–5.5 mm, yellow to orange, sepals 5–7 × 4–5 mm, glabrous with veins visible at the margins, not keeled, petals (3–)4–5 × 2–3 mm, glabrous, veins raised only near

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Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 147 the base of the petal, valvate tips ¼ to 2/5 the length of the petal, ca. 1–2 mm long, pistil 3–5 × 2–3 mm, nearly glabrous to thin tomentose, 1–1.5 mm long, staminodal ring ca. 1–1.5 mm high. Fruit 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.3 cm, persistent perianth (cupule) beige to brown, 12–13 mm wide, 5–8 mm deep, ring 2 mm in height, epicarp less than 0.5 mm thick, smooth fibrous with reddish to yellowish brown tomentum, light green with scattered tomentum when mature, 1 mm thick, mesocarp fibrous; endocarp slightly ellipsoid, 1.3–1.7 × 1.0– 1.3 cm, 1–1.5 mm thick, bony, smooth on the interior, yellow-brown, trivittate, with no clusters of fibers; seed ellipsoid, 14–16 × 10 mm, endosperm homogeneous. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— coquinho, ariri.

Etymology:— The specific epithet, microphylla , refers to the small leaves of this attractive acaulescent palm. However, this may be a misnomer. When growing in heavily shaded areas, this species produces larger leaves.

Distribution and habitat:— Endemic to the Brazilian state of Bahia, in the Chapada Diamantina region (Serra do Tombador), in the transition between caatinga and campo rupestre, at elevations above 800 m, generally in sandy gravelly soils, but it grows in very rocky habitats as well. It can also be found growing in the Serra do Tombador in the Municipio de Morro do Chapéu, usually at 900–1000 m elevation, and in the eastern part of the adjacent Municipio de Miguel Calmon, which is still part of the same high elevation plateau area. Also found in a series of high elevation disjunct cerrados, "gerais," in the Municipio de Sento Sé, about 150 km to the NW of Morro do Chapéu, and in campo rupestre to caatinga vegetation above 1000 m, usually in white sandy to gravely soils and even growing in reddish clays. Within western limits of the Municipio de Miguel Calmon, this palm grows in a relatively dry habitat with another acaulescent palm which is better adapted to tolerate such dryness, S. vagans . As of yet no hybrids have been found between the two, but this is the only known locality where the ranges of these two species overlap, one a palm of the more mesic, high-elevation campo rupestre and the other palm a component of the caatinga.

Conservation:— This species is well protected within a large state park (Parque Estadual do Morro do Chapéu). It is a palm that produces an abundance of seeds, which germinate well. Many individuals grow in very rocky soils from which they are not easily extracted. They can grow in fairly dense populations. This palm is not under any threat and is classified as LC.

Phenology:— Syagrus microphylla flowers from August to March. This species fruits in October to April. It fruits sparsely in the summer (January–March). The germination is slow, and the rate of germination is low.

Uses:— This palm would make an excellent ornamental. It is a very attractive palm and when grown in full sun, it accumulates more waxes on its leaves and takes on a very beautiful blue-green color ( Fig. 57A ). It is also small and would easily fit into most gardens. The water from the young coconuts has been used medicinally, as a treatment for eye irritation.

Notes:— This is an attractive, small, acaulescent palm with silvery, glaucous blue foliage. Syagrus microphylla was originally described by Burret from a specimen collected by Werdermann near Morro de Chapéu in 1932, but the holotype was destroyed during the Second World War. The species was rediscovered in 1971, by Irwin, Harley and Smith, whose collection has now become the neotype. Morro do Chapéu appears to be the most popular place to collect this species, because the palm is common and the city is very accessible, lying along a major east-west highway. The species is just as abundant in the Serra do Curral Feio, Serra do Alegre and Serra do Pau d'Arco and all the associated sierras in the eastern side of the Municipio de Sento Sé. It is also found in the Serra do Tombador, west of Jacobina.

This palm is easily distinguished by its small leaves with clustered pinnae, and a small inflorescence that is usually about the same height as the leaves, 3–9 rachillae, with 5–10 fruits per rachilla. In the infructescence of this species, the lower branches tend to be inclined towards the ground, not like most of the others that usually remain angled upward from the rachis, like S. vagans . Additional information on this species can be found in Glassman (1977).

Representative specimens:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Campo Formoso, Agua Preta, estrada Alagoinhas-Minas do Mimoso , 1050 m, 26 June 1983, L. Coradin et al. 6073 ( CEN!, K!, NY!) ; Delfino, Serra do Curral Frio, Estrada Delfino-Mimoso de Minas , 32 km de Delfino, 1248 m, –10.50, –41.31, 9 March 1997, P. Gasson 6175 ( ALCB, CEPEC, HUEFS!) ; Jacobina , ca. 20 km N de Jacobina, 355 m, –11.06, –40.67, 3 May 1999, F. França et al. 2879 ( HUEFS!) ; Miguel Calmon, ca. de 5 km oeste de Praça do Jatobá ou 31 km oeste de M. Calmon na estrada para Varzea Nova , região de Macauba, 800–900 m, –11.30, –40.83, 14 March 1986, L.R. Noblick 4534 ( ALCB!, CEPEC!, F!, FTG!, HUEFS!, RB!) ; Morro do Chapéu , 27 August 1986, Bautista 416 ( HRB!) ; Morro do Chapéu ,

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Estrada Morro do Chápel-Utinga , 1 km da entrada para o morrão, –11.55, –41.16, 11 November 1998, D.S. Carneiro-Torres 25 ( HUEFS!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Morro do da antena entrada pela estrada para Wagner, –11.38, – 41.27, 1 March 1989, T.B. Cavalcanti et al. 363 ( CEN!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Morrão, 1300 m, –11.59, –41.21, 13 March 1996, A.A. Conceição 2350 ( ALCB!, CEPEC, HUEFS) ; Morro do Chapéu , Piemonte da Diamantina, 1200 m, –11.55, –41.15, 17 May 1975, A.L. Costa & Barros s.n. ( ALCB!, HRB!) ; Morro do Chapéu , –11.55, –41.16, 26 September 1965, A.P. Duarte 9603 ( RB!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Parque Morro do Chapéu, estrada para o Barracão, 1074 m, –11.42, –41.21, 28 April 2006, J.L. Ferreira et al. 23 ( HUEFS) ; Morro do Chapéu , ca. 10 km L de Morro na BA 052, 984 m, –11.60, –41.06, 27 August 2006, F. França 5534 ( HUEFS) ; Morro do Chapéu , Morrão (Alto da antena), 1266 m, –11.58, –41.20, 5 May 2007, M. Freitas 37 ( HUEFS!) ; Morro do Chapéu , 1220 m, 30 November 1980, A. Furlan et al. 291 (K!, SPF!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Serra Pé do Morro, 1293 m, –11.58, –41.20, 29 June 1996, A.M. Giulietti 3213 ( ALCB!, HUEFS) ; Morro do Chapéu , Serra do Tombador, 2 km SW of Morro do Chapéu, on road to Utinga, very local for radius of ca. 5 km, 20 August 1976, S.F. Glassman 13018–13031 ( BH!, CEN!, F!, FTG!, HRB!, IPA!, K!, MBM!, MICH!, MO!, NY!, RB!, SP!, UC!, US!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Summit of Morro do Chapéu , ca. 8 km SW of the town of Morro do Chapéu to the west of the road to Utinga, ca. 1000 m, – 11.58, –41.20, 3 March 1977, R.M. Harley 19340 ( CEPEC!, K!, NY!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Same locality as proceeding, –11.58, –41.20, 30 May 1980, R.M. Harley 22816 ( CEPEC!, HBR!, MBM, MO!, K!, NY!, U) ; Morro do Chapéu , Serra do Tombador, –11.55, –41.16, 15 July 1979, G. Hatschbach 42345 (F!, MBM!, NY!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Serra do Tombador , base of Morro do Chapéu, ca. 6 km S of town of Morro do Chapéu, 1100 m, –11.55, – 41.16, 18 February 1971, H.S. Irwin et al. 32470 ( NY!, MO!, UB!) ; Morro do Chapéu , –11.98, –41.29, 3 September 1985, J.L. de S. Lima & L.R. Noblick 128–139 ( HTSA!, IPA!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Piemonte da Diamantina, –11.55, –41.15, 12 May 1957, R.P. Lordêlo 57-343 ( ALCB!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Parque Estadual de Morro do Chapéu —PEMC. Estrada nova do Prefeito, 1052 m, –11.41, –41.22, 12 October 2006, E. Melo et al. 4475 ( HUEFS!) ; Morro do Chapéu , na estrada para Bonito a 10 km de Morro do Chapéu, –11.55, –41.12, 5 February 2009, H. Lorenzi 6600 ( HPL!) ; Morro do Chapéu , 1–2 km sul da cidade na estrada para Utinga, 1000 m, –11.55, –41.15, 16 November 1984, L.R. Noblick & Clodoaldo 3508 (F!, FTG!, GH!, HUEFS!, MO!, RB!, SP!) ; Morro do Chapéu ca. 1–3 km S of the city on the road towards Utinga, BR-426, –11.55, –41.15, 21 February 1992, L.R. Noblick 4835 ( FTG!, MO!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Morrão, Piemont da Chapada Diamantina, próximo às torres de telefonia, 1278 m, 28 May 2009, M. Oliveira 4260 ( HVASF) ; Morro do Chapéu , 50 km N depois de Fedegoso no direção de Varzea Nova, 28 August 1981, R.P. Orlando 468 ( HRB!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Estrada para o "Morrão" (Morro do Chapéu), ca. 13 km da rodovia para Utinga, arredores da antena, 1235 m, –11.09, –41.21, 28 January 2005, J. Paula-Souza et al. 4796 ( ESA!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Entrada da estrada para o "Morrão" (Morro do Chapéu), 1010 m, –11.56, –41.16, 28 January 2005, J.F. Paula-Souza et al. 4928 ( ESA!) ; Morro do Chapéu , estrada para o "Morrão" (Morro do Cthapéu), ca. 13 km da rodovia para Utinga, arredores da antena, 1235 m, – 11.09, –41.21, 21 July 2006, J.F. Paula-Souza, et al. 6285 ( ESA!) ; Morro do Chapéu , BA-426, 33 km SW de Varzea Nova, –11.49, –41.13, 800 m, 8 November 1986, L.P. de Queiroz et al. 1240 ( HUEFS!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Dunas, – 11.58, –41.22, 7 August 2003, P.L. Ribeiro 12 ( HUEFS!) ; Morro do Chapéu , rod. BA-426, km 6 no sentido M. do Chapéu / Jacobina. Fazenda do Sr. Joaquim Coutinho, margem esquerda da rod., 12 August 1979, A.J. Ribeiro 37 ( CEPEC!, K!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Dunas, 930 m, –11.50, –41.33, 5 May 2007, L. Rodrigues 15 ( HUEFS!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Estrada para Barracão, 1106 m, –11.42, –41.21, 11 November 2007, F.B.L. Silva 50 ( HUEFS!) ; Morro do Chapéu , Morro da Antena, 1100 m, –11.59, –41.21, 19 July 2001, V.C. Souza et al. 26488 ( ESA!) ; Piemonte da Diamantina , –11.52, –41.27, 24 April 2010, M.L. Guedes 16959 ( ALCB!) ; Piemonte da Diamantina, Morro do Chapéu , Caminho para o Morrão, –11.92, –41.12, 22 October 2011, M.L. Guedes 19261 ( ALCB!, HTSA) ; Piemonte da Diamantina , 903 m, 10 November 2007, N. Roque 1706 ( ALCB) ; Sento Sé , Serra das Almas , campo rupestre, 1193 m, 14 May 2010, A.P. Fontana 6665 ( HVASF) ; Sento Sé , Serra do Curral Feio, 1974, R.M. Harley 16675 ( BH!, color slide, K) ; Sento Sé , Serra do Curral Feio, –10.50, –41.58, 7 October 1988, J.L. de S. Lima 91 ( HTSA!) ; Sento Sé , Serra do Pau D' arco, –10.50, –41.58, 7 October 1988, J.L. de S. Lima 92, 93 ( HTSA!) ; Sento Sé , Serra dos Prazeres , 513 m, 27 January 2010, M. Oliveira 4781 ( HVASF) ; Serra do Alegre , 11 km S of Minas do Mimosa in the Serra das Almas, 1060 m, –10.34, –41.40, 7 October 1988, L.R. Noblick & J.L. de S. Lima 4611 ( AAU!, CEPEC!, F!, HTSA!) ; Serra do Alegre , 3 km S of Campo Largo in the Serra do Pau d'Arco, 1000–1010 m, –10.41, –41.40, 7 October 1988, L.R. Noblick & J.L. de S. Lima 4612 ( BAH!, BH!, CEPEC!, F!, FTG!, HTSA!, K!, NY!, US!) ; Umburanas , Serra do Campo Largo, 1014 m, 29 January 2010, D. Araújo 1330 ( HVASF) ; Umburanas , Serra da Empleitada , 960 m, –10.43, –41.40, 21 September 2006, J.A. Siqueira Filho 1778 ( HVASF, MBML) ; Utinga , 3 km Morro do Chapéu, –12.04, –41.25, 27 September 1985, G. Fotius et al. 4183 ( HTSA) .

A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYAGRUS

Figures

FIGURE 49. Distribution maps of Syagrus lilliputiana, S. loefgrenii, S. longipedunculata, S. lorenzoniorum, S. macrocarpa, S. mendanhensis, S. menzeliana, S. microphylla and S. minor.

FIGURE 57. Syagrus microphylla. A. Habit near Morro do Chapéu, Bahia. B. Leaf and inflorescence. C. Palm with silvery-bluish leaves and partially excavated stem to show procumbent trunk. Clodoaldo José de Morais holding an inflorescence and another leaf to show the variation in leaf size from a sunny exposed habitat to a shaded one among taller vegetation. (Noblick & Clodoaldo 3508).