Syagrus caerulescens Noblick & Lorenzi (2010b: 28)

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

5. Syagrus caerulescens Noblick & Lorenzi (2010b: 28) . Type:— BRAZIL. Goiás: Municipio of Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Chapada dos Veadeiros , on the GO-118 highway to Teresina de Goiás on a side road to the right [east side], 5 km from the town of Alto Paraíso, towards the locality of Cachoeira dos Cristais , a little more than 500 m from the GO-118 highway, in a grassy field with sandy soil, 1,370 m elevation, –14.09, –47.52, 7 March 2009. H. Lorenzi, R. Pimenta & R. Campos 6649 (holotype HPL!, isotypes ESA!, K!, NY!, RB!, SP!)

Figure 8 plate, Figure 4 map.

Short, solitary palm 25–60 cm tall. Stem short, subterranean, appearing nearly acaulescent ca. 0–15 × 5–8 cm. Leaves 2–4(–6), less than 1 m long; sheathing leaf base 12–20 × 5 cm long; pseudopetiole with fibrous margins, 9– 17 cm long; petiole 3–14 × 0.6–1.5 cm; rachis with white tomentum along the abaxial side, 44–87 cm long; leaflets 40–56 (112) along each side of the rachis, linear, stiff coriaceous, dark green on the upper surface, bluish green on the lower, with acute, asymmetrical apex, distributed irregularly in closely spaced clusters of 2 or 3, inserted in various planes, no ramenta scales or tomentum present where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis, and none along the abaxial midvein, transverse veins inconspicuous; basal leaflets 12–22 × 0.1–0.4 cm, middle leaflets 13–24 × 1.0– 1.9 cm, apical leaflets 4.5–6 × 0.2–0.5 cm. Inflorescence erect, spicate or rarely branched; prophyll 8–12 × 1.8–3 cm long; peduncular bract 17–20 cm long, expanded part 8–15 × 4–6 cm, variably 1–4 mm thick; peduncle (4–)11–14 × 0.5–0.8(–1.3) cm; inflorescence axis 8–13 cm long; rachis absent; rachilla 1 (rarely 2 or 3), 8–10 cm long; staminate flowers (9–)13.6–15.7 × 5.0– 8.3 mm, sepals 1.4–2.1 × 1.1 mm, glabrous, petals (8–)12.0–13.6 × 2.8–5.0 mm with acute tips, nerves indistinct to slightly raised, stamens 6.4–8.0 mm long, anthers 4.3–7.0 mm long, filaments ca. 1.5–3.0 mm long; basal pistillate flowers elongate conical, ca. 11–12 × 6–10 mm, glabrous, sepals 10–12 × 6–9.3 mm, petals 9–10 × 3–6.7 mm, with valvate tip ca. 2/5 the length of the petals, ca. 4 mm long, glabrous, pistil slightly lepidote, 8.6 × 5 mm, stigmas less than 3 mm long, glabrous, staminodal ring ca. 1 mm high, 6-dentate. Fruit ovoid, 2.0–2.5 × 1.5–2.0 cm, epicarp with reddish brown lepidote less than 1 mm thick, mesocarp thickness not measured, succulent and fibrous; endocarp nearly globose to oblate, 1.2–1.5 × 1.2–1.3 cm, 0.8–1.3 mm thick; seed not measured, endosperm homogeneous. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— palmeirinha-azul

Etymology:— The specific epithet, caerulescens , means bluish, and reflects its common Brazilian name “palmeirinha-azul” or little blue palm.

Distribution and habitat:— Endemic to the state of Goiás, Brazil, in campo rupestre in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, growing generally in rocky, sandy soils.

Conservation:— Syagrus caerulescens grows within the protective boundaries of a national park (Chapada dos Veadeiros ). It grows in both rocky and sandy soils and is only threatened when growing in agriculturally valuable soils outside the park. There is no immediate threat and it is classified as least concern, LC.

Phenology:— Palm was seen flowering in July; however no fruit was present at that time of year.

Uses:— A beautiful palm with attractive foliage that makes it ideal for landscaping. The tasty and nutritious fruits, which are easily accessible, are eaten by small rodents. This palm possesses potential for cultivation in gardens.

Notes:— This palm’s attractive bluish color is due to the thick, waxy, bluish coating on the lower side of its leaves. It frequently has few leaves, but this may be due to the frequent fires that sweep across its habitat. Its leaflet anatomy is most similar to S. rupicola , but it has thinner leaflets, a much thinner epidermis, and more numerous small vascular fibers along the abaxial surface of its leaflets. It differs further from S. rupicola by being smaller in stature with leaves that are blue on the lower surface and green on the upper surface, rather than silvery-blue on both surfaces.

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Representative specimens:— BRAZIL. Goiás: Agua Fria, Estação Repetidora da TeleBrasília de Roncador , 1000 m, 12 June 1993, G. Hatschbach et al. 59334 ( FTG!, MBL) ; Alto Paraíso de Goiás , December 2009, Faria 881 ( UB!) ; Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Cachoeira , 24 May 2008, R.C. Martins et al. 923 ( HEPH) ; Alto Paraíso de Goiás , em beira de estrada sentido TO, lado direito [east side], ca. 3 km da cidade, 7 May 2008, R. Tsuji & E. Franco 2622 ( HPL!) ; Alta Paraíso do Goiás, próximo ao Hotel Carmelot , saindo de Alta Paraíso sentido TO, 1280 m, –14.13, –47.52, 19 June 2008, R. Tsuji et al. 2688 ( HPL!) ; Cavalcante, beira da estrada entre o Engenho II e Brocotó , 17 January 2010, R.C. Martins 1066 ( UB!) ; Chapada das Perdizes , 20 July 1963, E.P. Heringer 8926A ( UB!) ; Formosa—Sentido Alto Paraíso-GO, antes do Post Fiscal , 1196 m, –15.49, –47.52, 18 June 2008, R. Tsuji et al. 2685 ( HPL!) ; São João de Aliança , July 1990, Cavalcanti et al. 639 ( CEN) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Distribution maps of Syagrus allagopteroides, S. amara, S. angustifolia, S. botryophora, S. caerulescens, S. campestris, S. campylospatha, and S. cardenasii.

FIGURE 8. Syagrus caerulescens. A. Habit in Minas Gerais. B. Leaf with a greenish upper and bluish lower surface. C. Inflorescence on the plant. D. Spicate inflorescence, showing the pistillate flowers and thick bract. E. Infructescence with fruits. F. Flowers with pistillate flowers and pistil above and older staminate flowers below. G. Fruits. H. Endocarps. All grids are in centimeters.