Syagrus smithii (H.E.Moore) Glassman (1970b: 231)

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

58. Syagrus smithii (H.E.Moore) Glassman (1970b: 231) . Chrysallidosperma smithii Moore (1963a:109) . Type:— PERU. Loreto: Province Alto Amazonas, between km 13 and 14 on Yurimaguas-Tarapoto road, 24 May 1960, H.E. Moore Jr., A. Salazar C., & E.E. Smith 8516 (holotype BH, isotype USM)

Figure 80 plate, Figure 77 map.

Moderately-sized, solitary palm. Stem ca. 4–10 m × 5–8 cm, erect, columnar, self-cleaning. Leaves 5–18; sheathing leaf base ca. 45 cm long; pseudopetiole 25–90 cm long; petiole ca. 10 cm long; rachis 190–300 cm long; leaflets slightly lighter on the abaxial surface, 83–92 along one side, in clusters of (1–)2–5, inserted at various angles, giving the leaf a plumose appearance, adult leaflets with raised transverse veins when dried, no ramenta scales or tomentum present where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis, and none along the abaxial midvein; basal leaflets not measured, middle leaflets 65–66 × 3–3.7 cm, apical leaflets not measured with an asymmetric tip. Inflorescence erect to pendulous, spirally branched; prophyll ca. 40 cm long, width not measured; peduncular bract ca. 135 cm long, expanded portion 51–85 × 13.5–14 cm, including a 6 cm beak, 5 cm perimeter, 2–3 mm

202 • Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press

NOBLICK A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYAGRUS

Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 203 thickness, narrow, woody, sulcate, exterior with scattered thin indument; peduncle ca. 75–77 cm × 9–14 mm, 3–4 mm thick, elliptical in cross-section, chocolate brown tomentose; inflorescence axis 50–62 cm long; rachis 12–25 cm long; rachillae 9–35, tomentose, 19–26 cm long at the apex, 25–40 cm long at the base; staminate flowers 9– 11 mm long at the apex, 11–13 × 5 mm at the base, green to yellow, sepals (1–)2–3 × 1 mm, petals 8 mm long at the apex, 13 × 3–4 mm at the base, with acute tips, nerves not observed, stamens 5.5–7 mm long, anthers 5–6 mm long, filaments 2–3 mm long, pistillode less than 1 mm long; basal pistillate flowers pyramidal, 11–13 × 9–10 mm, yellow, sepals 9–11 × 8–9 mm, petals 8–10(–12) × 7–10 mm, glabrous, pistil 7–8 × 5–6 mm, glabrous, stigmas 2.5–3 mm long, glabrous, staminodal ring ca. 2 mm high, 6-dentate. Fruit ellipsoid, 5–8 × 3–4.2 cm, dark brown or yellowish when mature, glabrous, epicarp less than 0.5 mm thick, mesocarp 3 mm thick, succulent and fibrous; endocarp ca.5.5–6 × 3.5–3.9 cm, 5–6 mm thick on its sides, 5–9 mm thick at the ends; seed ellipsoid, ca. 3.5 × 1.8–2 cm, endosperm ruminate, especially near its outer surface. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— catolé.

Etymology:— The specific epithet, smithii , honors Dr. Earl E. Smith, who initiated, arranged, and participated in the survey of palms of Peru as part of the program of Agriculture Division, United States Operation Mission to Peru, International Cooperation Administration, and of the Servicio Florestal of Peru ( Moore 1963a). He helped Dr. Harold Moore collect the holotype for this species.

Distribution and habitat:— This species grows in tropical primary and secondary forests. The species has been found in Acre and western Amazonas in Brazil. It also grows in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Conservation:— This species grows in lowlands and on steep slopes in the Andes. It is protected within the boundaries of the Parque Nacional de Serra da Divisor in Acre, Brazil, where it is common within the park and the adjacent regions. Because it still resides in a somewhat remote area and part of the population is protected within a national park, this species is classified as least concern, LC.

Phenology:— Fruits in fall and winter (April–September).

Uses:— The fruits are sought out by animals, even domestic ones. This species has the potential to be cultivated as an ornamental, which is already being done on a limited scale in some countries.

Notes:— This is a slender trunked palm with large fruit. Some of the identifying characters for this species are the large (5–8 cm) ellipsoid fruit with the triangular endocarp, three-sided endocarp cavity and ruminate endosperm (ruminate at the edges). In the original description ( Moore 1963a), there is a black and white photo of this species that shows a peduncular bract that is at least 135 cm long ( Fig. 80G ), and yet most of the S. smithii that were pointed out on a 2007 trip into Northern Peru had a very short peduncular bracts, similar to the image in Lorenzi et al. (2010). There may be more than one species in the area. The odd thing about this species is that some individuals, even after they have become reproductive, will retain simple bifid leaves ( Fig. 80F ) instead of pinnate leaves (Rodrigo Bernal, pers. comm.).

Representative specimens:— BRAZIL. Acre: Mâncio Lima, Serra do Moa near the Rio Moa , 350 m, –7.61, – 72.90, 12 October 1989, A.J. Henderson et al. 1117 ( NY!) ; Mâncio Lima, Rio Moa, near junction with Rio Azul , Igarapé Sao Pedro , 3.30 hours walk north of Rio Moa , –7.61, –72.90, 5 February 1992, A.J. Henderson et al. 1694 ( NY) ; Mancio Lima, Serra do Mar , –7.61, –72.90, 31 March 2003, H. Lorenzi 3722 ( HPL!) ; Mâncio Lima, J. Ribamar 27 ( HPZ) ; Amazonas: Rio Javari, behind Palmeiras Army Post , –5.13, –72.82, 31 July 1973, E. Lleras et al. P16953 ( NY!) ; COLOMBIA. Amazonas: Río Cahuinarí, entre el lago Carijona y el lago Pecado , 9 September 1988, G.A. Galeano & A. Miraño 1669 ( NY!) ; ECUADOR. Morona-Santiago: 600 m, –2.28, –77.75, 30 May 1986, H. Balslev 62414 ( AAU!, MO, QCA) ; Napo: Roadside near Yasuni Scientific Research Station . 230 m, – 0.67, –76.38, 25 August 1995, H. Balslev 6379A ( AAU, MO) ; Maxus road km 80 S of Pompeya, –0.88, –76.30, 2000, H. Balslev 6404 ( AAU, MO) ; PERU. Amazonas: Bagua, Yamayakat , 320 m, –4.92, –78.32, 3 February 1996, N. Jaramillo et al. 1051 ( MO, NY) ; Bagua , 350 m, –5.057, –78.34, 8 November 1997, R. del P. Rojas G. 531 ( MO) ; Bagua , 550 m, –5.06, –78.34, 21 June 1996, R. Vásquez Martínez 21328 ( MO, NY) ; Condorcanqui, Rio Cenepa region. Trail above Quebrada Cikan Inci to Shimpuntz , west of Huampami , 700–900 ft, –4.43, –78.25, 18 December 1979, B. Berlin 593 ( MO) ; Condorcanqui, Monte virgin, 1 km atrás de la comunidad de Caterpiza , trocha de metayar, banda este de la Quebrada Caterpiza, Río Santiago , 180–200 m, –3.92, –77.72, 24 October 1979, V. Huaskikat 1039 ( MO!) ; Loreto: Distrito de Yaquerana, Gálvez River, Nuevo San Juan , ca. 5 km north of the village on the opposite side of the Gálvez from the village, 150 m, –5.292, –79.16, 13 September 1999, D.W. Fleck 459 ( NY) ; Loreto, Nauta, carretera Nauta-Dtto. Iquitos , 150 m, –4.48, –73.58, 11 January 1988, R. Vásquez Martínez 10366 ( MO!) ; Maynas , 140 m, –3.83, –73.50, 1 March 1995, A.H. Gentry 25290 ( MO) ; Ucayali:

204 • Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press

NOBLICK

Province Coronel Portillo, 6–8 km beyond Aguaytía on to San Alejandro, ca. 330 m, 29 April 1960, H.E. Moore Jr. et al. 8375 ( BH, USM) .

Figures

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

FIGURE 80. Syagrus smithii. A. Habit. B. Crown. C. New juvenile palm with strap leaves from Colombia. D. Infructescence. E. Endocarp, note resemblance to a chrysallid. Grid is in centimeters. F. Juvenile palms sometimes retain Geonoma-like bifid leaves (pers. comm. Rodrigo Bernal). G. Inflorescence with Dr. E. E. Smith near Yurimaguas, Loreto, Peru. H. Mature fruits. Photo A and G by Harri Lorenzi. Photos B–D by Rodrigo Bernal. Photo F by Gloria Galeano. Photo G by Harold E. Moore Jr. from Principes 7: 163.