Syagrus stenopetala Burret (1932: 322)

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

59. Syagrus stenopetala Burret (1932: 322) . Type:— VENEZUELA. Anzoategui: Distrito Federal, Puerto La Cruz , 500 m, 26 April 1923, A. Jahn 1208 (holotype VEN, isotype US!)

Figure 81 plate, Figure 77 map.

Medium to large, solitary to frequently clustering palm. Stem ca. 3–15 m × 12–18 cm, erect to arching, self-cleaning. Leaves 13–18; sheathing leaf base ca. 117–123 × 14–18 cm; pseudopetiole 50–107 cm long; petiole 5–15 × 4–4.5 cm, 1.5–1.8 cm thick; rachis 2.1–2.4 m long; leaflets slightly lighter on the abaxial surface, 97–118 along one side, in clusters of 2–4, inserted at various angles, giving the leaf a plumose appearance, no ramenta scales or tomentum present where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis and a few may be present on the proximal leaflets on the proximal portion of each leaflet along the abaxial midvein; basal leaflets 50–77 × 0.7–2.6 cm, middle leaflets 14–73 × 2–3.4 cm, apical leaflets 14–32 × 0.2–1.3 cm with an asymmetric tip. Inflorescence erect to pendulous, spirally branched; prophyll 27–42 × 7–8 cm; peduncular bract 70–150 cm long, expanded portion 43–82 × 8–12 cm, including a 4–7 cm beak, 12–21 cm perimeter, 2–3 mm thickness, narrow, woody, sulcate, exterior relatively glabrous with scattered thin indument only on the lower part of the bract; peduncle ca. (20–)25–47 × 2.3–2.5 cm, 1.0– 1.5 cm thick, elliptical in cross-section, glabrous, but with thin indument when young, later becoming glabrous; inflorescence axis 22–70 cm long; rachis 20–44 cm long; rachillae 45–81, glabrous, except on the lower rachillae, 14– 3 cm long at the apex, 44–58 cm long at the base; staminate flowers 7–9 mm long at the apex, 8–12 × 3–6 mm at the base, green to yellow, sepals 1.2–2 × 1–2 mm, glabrous, relatively smooth, petals 7–10 × 2–4 mm at the base with acute tips, nerves indistinct, stamens 5–8 mm long, anthers 4.5–6 mm long, filaments 2–4 mm long, pistillode ca. 1 mm long; basal pistillate flowers conical, 7–8 × 5–8 mm, sepals 7–8 × 6–8 mm, yellow, glabrous, petals 6–9 × 4–6 mm, glabrous, pistil 3–7 × 3.5–6 mm, glabrous, stigmas 1.5–2 mm long, glabrous, staminodal ring ca. 1.5–2 mm high, 6-dentate. Fruit ellipsoid, 3–4(–5) × (1.3–) 1.8–2.6 cm, yellow-green, yellow to orange when mature, glabrous on the lower half, scattered lepidote on the upper half becoming ever more dense, tomentose at the apex, epicarp is less than 0.5 mm thick, mesocarp 1–2 mm thick, succulent and fibrous; endocarp ca. 3.2–3.5 × 1.8–2.2 cm, ca. 1–3 mm thick on the sides, 5 mm thick at the tips; seed ellipsoid, ca. 2.1–2.9 × ca. 1.5–1.6 mm, endosperm homogeneous. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— cococito, palmita, yaraco.

Etymology:— The specific epithet, stenopetala , means narrow petals.

Distribution and habitat:— Northern Venezuela coastal mountain ranges in the states of Aragua, Carabobo, Distrito Federal, Falcón, Lara, Miranda and Yaracuy, in the rocky to sandy or clay soils of the seasonally dry or transitional areas from sea level to 700 m.

Conservation:— This species is occasional to common throughout the northern Venezuelan coastal range. This palm grows in areas that are rocky, mountainous and not agriculturally valuable. It is very resilient to dry spells and will re-sprout from the base should the original stems be killed by drought or damaged by humans. It is probably found within the borders of several national parks in that northern part of Venezuela. Therefore, it is classified as least concern, LC.

Phenology:— Some plants have fruits in late spring (November–December).

Uses:— Trunks of these palms are used in construction of homes and buildings. Fruit mesocarp and seed are edible.

Notes:— Syagrus stenopetala , with a few exceptions, always clusters, and S. orinocensis almost never does (with one exception observed in cultivation). In the wild, the leaves of S. stenopetala appear to be more robust, stiffer and more erect, while those of S. orinocensis are more pendulous, but in cultivation these differences are not as apparent. This species was placed in synonymy with S. orinocensis ( Glassman, 1987) , but because of its clustering habit, more robust proportions, and other distinctions enumerated by Stauffer (1996), the author retains it as a distinct species. In addition, their flowering and fruiting times are distinct ( Noblick 2013b).

A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYAGRUS

Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 205 206 • Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press

NOBLICK

Representative specimens:— VENEZUELA. Carabobo: Guaremales near Urama, road from Puerto Cabello to San Felipe , 10 December 1920 [1921], H. Pittier 9154 (G, GH, NY!, US!, VEN); Puerto Cabello, 1916, J.N. Rose 22007 ( GH); entre Valencia y Las Trincheras, en selva veranera, 400 m, 5 June 1974, L. Schnee 1757 ( MY); alrededores de Patanemo, cerca del March en espinar, 40 m, 5 June 1974, L. Schnee 1758 ( MY); Distrito Puerto Cabello, al E de caseiro El Castraño y crusando el Río Aguas Calientes , en falda del Parque Nacional San Estanban, 250 m, 10.35, –68.10, 29 August 1996, F. Stauffer et al. 215 ( VEN); Distrito Guarcara, via al pueblo de Las Trincheras , en alrededores de las aguas termales, 450–500 m, without date, F. Stauffer et al. 216 ( VEN); a largo de la carretera Valencia –Puerto Cabello, 2 km al sur de Las Trincheras , 100 m, 6 January 1970, J.A. Steyermark 102432 ( MO!, NY, U, VEN); Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Rancho Grande, 300–500 m, 10.50, –67.75, 27 January 1987, W.J. Hahn & F.T. Grifo 3471 (K!, MO!, US); near El Cambur, 1968, J.G. Wessels Boer 2449 (F!, U); Distrito Federal: Falcon: Distrito Zamoura, Cerro La Ceiba , 100 m, 8 June 1977, T. Ruiz et al. 1595 ( VEN); Falcon, al este del Cerro Topopo, cerca de El Maicillal, en selva veranera, 80 m, 17 October 1974, L. Schnee 1778 ( MY); Falcon, al este del Cerro Topopo, 13 March 1975, L. Schnee 1798 ( MY); Falcon, Distrito Silva , entre Sanare y El Cruce, 1 km noroeste de La Soledad, 10.92, –68.38, 1 September 1974, J.A. Steyermark & B. Manara 110614 ( BH!, VEN); Lara: Bobare , 11 km N of Bobare on the road Baraquisimeto/Coro (Falcon), 700 m, 10.50, –69.47, 18 June 1994, L.R. Noblick & R. Smith 4937 ( FTG!); Gamilotal, 2–3 km E of El Altar, 200–300 m, 10.67, –69, 17 June 1994, L.R. Noblick & R. Smith 4936 ( FTG!, PORTO!); alrededores de Sanare cerca de los maglares, 10 m, 30 January 1975, L. Schnee 1792 ( MY); a 25 km N de Barquisimeto, en las cumbres, 14 May, 1968, R. Smith 3666 ( VEN); Miranda: 7 km E of Cupira; new road 1 km S of main road, starting at the Río Chupaquire S of El Guacuco, 0–150 m, 10.15, –65.63, 16 May 1981, R.L. Liesner & A. González 11928 ( MO, NY!, VEN); Yaracuy: alrededores de Chivacoa, 16 April 1975, L. Schnee 1805 ( MY); Distrito Nirgua, via Nirgua – Bejuma, 650–700, 29 November 1996 – 1 December 1996, F. Stauffer et al. 264 ( VEN); Along the road between Boca de Uchire and San José de Río Chico, 4 May 1960, J.A. Steyermark & S. Nilsson 844 ( NY); Nirgua, without date, J.G. Wessels Boer 2445 (U) .

Figures

FIGURE 77. Distribution maps of Syagrus sancona, S. santosii, S. schizophylla, S. smithii, S. stenopetala, S. stratincola and S. vagans.

FIGURE 81. Syagrus stenopetala. A. Clustering habit at MBC. B. Clustering habit near Bobare, Venezuela (Noblick & Smith 4947). C. Crowns, which are more rigid and ascending in habitat. D. Inflorescence. E. Infructescences. F. Inflorescence and Infructescence. G. Staminate flowers. H. Fruits, which are green at maturity.