Syagrus insignis (Devansaye) Beccari (1916: 467)

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

29. Syagrus insignis (Devansaye) Beccari (1916: 467) . Glaziova insignis Devansaye (1873: 270) . Cocos insignis (Devansaye) Martius ex Hooker.f. (1884: 72, 74). C alappa insignis (Devansaye) Kuntze (1891: 982) . Lytocaryum insigne (Devansaye) Toledo (1944: 8) . Microcoelum insigne (Devansaye) Burret & Potztal (1956: 388) . Lectotype (designated by Dahlgren 1959, plate 391):— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Petropolis, a la Grande Roche de la Mamminha, 1879, A.F.M. Glaziou 11637 (lectotype C! [F neg. 21142]; isolectotypes K!, [also G, P fide Glassman 1987])

Figure 41 plate, Figure 38 map.

Solitary palm. Stem columnar, ca. 10–12 m × 10 cm. Leaves 8–20; sheathing leaf base ca. 48–51 cm long; pseudopetiole 48–55 cm long with mostly smooth margins, true petiole 13–17 × 1.8 cm, 0.3–0.4 cm thick; rachis 80–99 cm long, often covered with blackish hairs or fibers; leaflets dark green adaxially, silvery pubescent abaxially, linear, 42–60 along one side, regularly distributed in one plane, only a few ramenta scales or tomentum sometimes present where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis, only an occasional ramenta hair or ramenta patch on the proximal half of abaxial midvein; basal leaflets 25–32 × 0.2–0.4 cm, middle leaflets 20–30 × 0.9–1.5 cm, apical leaflets 15–18 × 0.1–0.2 cm with an asymmetric tip. Inflorescence erect to pendulous, spirally branched; prophyll 34–37 × 1–3 cm; peduncular bract 69–71 cm long, expanded portion 38–63 × 1.5–2.5 cm, including a 0– 4.5 cm beak, 2.3–4.3 cm perimeter, 1.5–2 mm thickness, narrow, woody, sulcate, exterior with scattered thin indument; peduncle ca. 36–88 cm × 4–7 mm, elliptical in cross-section, scaly lepidote; inflorescence axis 28–54 cm long; rachis 18–33 cm long; rachillae 18–62, scaly lepidote, 4–16 cm long at the apex, 12–26 cm long at the base; staminate flowers ca. 2.5 cm long at the apex, 3.5–5 × 1.5–2.5 mm at the base, green to yellow, sepals 0.7–1.5 × 1–2 mm, glabrous, faintly visible nerves, petals 2.4 mm long at the apex, 2.5–4.0 × 0.8–1.2(–2.5) mm at the base with acute tips, nerves indistinct, stamens 1.2–2.2 mm long, anthers 0.8–1.2(–2) mm long, filaments 0.8–2.0 mm long, pistillode ca. 1 mm long; basal pistillate flowers 3.0–5.5 × 2.0– 4.3 mm, conical, yellow, glabrous, sepals 4.5– 5.0 × 2.5–3.5 mm, glabrous, no visible venation, petals 4.0–4.5 × 2–2.5 mm, glabrous, distinctly nerved, valvate tips less than ½ the length of the petals, pistil 4.0–4.5 × 1.4–1.5 mm, glabrous, stigmas ca. 2–2.3 mm long, glabrous, staminodal ring ca. 3–5 mm high, 6-dentate. Fruit globose to ovoid, 1.8–2.3 × 1.6–1.9 cm, brownish-green when mature, glabrous, epicarp less than 0.5 mm thick, mesocarp 1 mm thick, succulent and fibrous; endocarp 2.0 × 1.7 cm, 0.5–1.0 mm thick on its sides, 1 mm thick at the ends, seed broadly ellipsoid, ca. 1.0–1.2 × 1.2–1.3 cm, endosperm homogeneous. Germination adjacent-ligular. Seedlings continue to produce simple, entire leaves until the plant reaches about 30 cm.

Common name:— icá-gigante, icá-assú, coquerinho-de-serra.

Etymology:— The specific epithet, insignis , means outstanding.

Distribution and habitat:— Brazil near Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro and extends northwards into the state of Espírito Santo at elevations of 1000–1800 m in seasonally dry forests.

Conservation:— This species is not collected very frequently, but it grows in very rocky terrain that is of no agricultural value. It is also within the boundaries of several reserves. Therefore, this species is classified as least concern, LC.

Phenology:— This palm probably flowers and fruits year around, but observed flowering and with young fruits in the spring (October).

Uses:— This elegant palm is ideal for landscaping.

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Notes:— This palm has sometimes been confused with S. weddelliana , but is more robust, taller (to 12 m vs. 3.5 m) with wider pinnae and covered with back-brown hairs rather than reddish chestnut brown hairs, and it grows above 1000 m. Syagrus insignis adults transplant very well, while S. weddelliana adults transplant poorly (Harri Lorenzi, pers. comm.). The eophyll of S. insignis , like most Syagrus , is simple and entire, followed by more simple, entire leaves until the plant reaches a height of ca. 30 cm, but the eophyll of S. weddelliana is a very small, simple and entire, immediately followed by pinnate leaves.

Representative specimens:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Alfredo Chaves , São Bento de Urânia , –20.64, – 40.75, 8 October 1994, G. Hatschbach et al. 61145 ( MBM) ; Castelo, Braço do Sul , –20.60, –41.18, 16 August 1948, A.C. Brade 19307 ( RB) ; Castelo, Parque Estadual do Forno Grande , –20.52, –41.10, 12 June 2004, L. Kollmann 6759 ( MBML) ; Castelo, Parque Estadual do Forno Grande , –20.52, –41.10, 11 July 2005, L. Kollmann 7962 ( MBML) ; Castelo, Parque Estadual do Forno Grande, Trilha da Balança , –20.53, –41.10, 18 July 2008, L. Kollmann 11132 ( MBML, RB) ; Fundão, Goiapaba-Açu , –19.91, –40.47, 13 October 2002, A.P. Fontana 402 ( MBML) ; Santa Leopoldina, Bragança, Mata do Tyrol, propr. Assunta Salvador , 560 m, –20.13, –40.55, 31 October 2006, L.F.S.Magnago 1529 ( MBML) ; Santa Leopoldina, Bragança, Mata do Tyrol, propr. Elcio Tomazini , –20.14, –40.55, 600, 19 April 2007, V. Demuner 3690 ( MBML) ; Santa Teresa, Country Club , –19.93, –40.64, 23 April 1985, W. Boone 403 ( MBML!) ; Santa Teresa, Country Club , –19.93, –40.64, 9 July 1985, W. Boone 577 ( MBML!, MO) ; Santa Teresa, Country Club , –19.93, –40.64, 11 September 1985, W. Boone 750 ( MBML!) ; Santa Teresa, Country Club , –19.93, –40.64, 23 April 1985, H.Q. Boudet Fernandes 1110 ( MBML!) ; Santa Teresa, Country Club , –19.93, –40.64, 19 November 1985, H.Q. Boudet Fernandes 1665 (M, MBML!) ; Santa Teresa, 25 de Julho, Alto Julião , –19.78, –40.60, 7 May 1986, H.Q. Boudet Fernandes 1967 ( MBML!, MO) ; Santa Teresa, Estação Biológica de Santa Lúcia , –19.97, –40.53, 19 September 1988, H.Q. Boudet Fernandes 2546 ( MBML!) ; Santa Teresa, cabeceira do Rio Bonito , mata onde esta sendo construido o radar, October 1988, L. Kollmann 40 ( MO) ; Santa Teresa, Cabeceira do Rio Bonito , –19.85, –40.55, November 1988, L. Kollmann s.n. ( MBML!) ; Santa Teresa, Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi-Nova Lombardia , –19.91, –40.55, 30 January 2002, L. Kollmann 5402 ( MBML) ; Santa Maria de Jetibá, Caramuru , –20.10, –40.68, 24 June 2003, L. Kollmann 6246 ( MBML) ; Santa Teresa, Santo Anselmo , –19.84, –40.57, 24 March 2006, L. Kollmann 8824 ( MBML) ; Santa Teresa, Estação Biológica de Santa Lúcia , –19.97, –40.53, 12 August 1992, L.D. Thomaz 1841 ( MBML) ; Santa Teresa, Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi-Nova Lombardia , –19.91, –40.55, 30 July 2002, R.R. Vervloet 592 ( MBML) ; Santa Teresa, Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi-Nova Lombardia , –19.91 –40.55, 29 October 2002, R.R. Vervloet 1322 ( MBML) ; Santa Teresa, Reserva Biológica Augusto Ruschi-Nova Lombardia , –19.91, –40.55, 29 April 2003, R.R. Vervloet 2328 ( MBML) ; Santa Teresa, Country Club , –19.93, –40.64, 9 July 1985, J.M. Vimercat 295 ( MBML!) ; Vargem Alta , 990, 14 November 2008, H. Lorenzi et al. 6538 ( HPL!) ; Rio de Janeiro: 25 March 1879, A.F.M. Glaziou s.n. (R) ; Macaé , –22.37, –41.79, 21 June 1937, A.C. Brade 15877 ( RB) ; Nova Friburgo, Distr. de Macaé de Cima, nascente do Rio das Flores ( Fazenda Sophronitis ), caminho para a pedra bicuda, –22.28, –42.53, 19 April 1989, H.Q. Boudet Fernandes, H.Q. 2744 ( MBML!, RB) ; Nova Friburgo, Mun. Nova Friburgo, nascente do Rio das Flores ( Fazenda Sophronitis ), margem direita do rio. Macaé de Cima , –22.28 –42.53, 20 April 1989, H.Q. Boudet Fernandes, H.Q. 2762 ( MBML!, RB) ; [Novo Friburgo], Est. do Rio Novo Friburgo , 1 January 1861, A.F.M. Glaziou 2757 ( FI, MO, P!, US) ; Nova Friburgo, Nascente do Rio das Flores , –22.55, –42.50, 21 October 1988, H.C. de Lima s.n. ( RB) ; Nova Friburgo, Macaé de Cima. Região do Rio das Flores , 1038 m, –22.43, –42.50, 29 January 2010, H. Lorenzi 6812 ( HPL!) ; Nova Friburgo, Reserva Ecológica Municipal de Macaé de Cima, Nascente do Rio das Flores , –22.55, –42.50, 25 May 1987, G. Martinelli 12068 ( RB, SP!) ; Nova Friburgo, Reserva Ecológica Municipal de Macaé de Cima , nascente do Rio das Flores, –22.28, –42.53, 25 May1987, G. Martinelli 12073 ( RB) ; Nova Friburgo, Reserva Ecológica Municipal de Macaé de Cima , nacente do Rio das Flores, –22, – 42.05, 1 November 1988, S. de V. A. Pessôa 350 ( NY, RB) ; Petropolis , Serra dos Orgãos, 1885 , A.F.M. Glaziou 16479 (C, K, LE, P); Santa Ana, 1909, E. Garbe 6198 ( SP!) ; Serra de Macahé, 1909 , E. Garbe 6199 ( SP!) ; Santa Maria Madalena, Parque Estadual do Desengano, vertente NW. Projeto Flora dos Campos de Altitude-Área III , – 21.96, –42.01, 6 October 1988, G. Martinelli 13172 ( RB) ; Santa Maria Madalena, Parque Estadual do Desengano, Pedra do Desengano , vertente N, –21.96, –42.01, 19 December 1988, G. Martinelli 13207 ( RB) ; Santa Maria Madalena, Parque Estadual do Desengano, Pedra do Desengano , vertentes SW e NW, –21.9553, –42.0081, 29 June 1989, G. Martinelli 13381 ( RB) ; Santa Maria Madalena, E do Rio, Sta. Maria Madalena , Rifa , –21.96, –42.01, 24 March 1955, E. Pereira 1329 ( RB) ; Serra de Estrela, 1879 , A.F.M. Glaziou 11632 ( LE) .

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Figures

FIGURE 38. Distribution maps of Syagrus harleyi, S. hoehnei, S. inajai, S. insignis, S. itacambirana, S. itapebiensis and S. kellyana.

FIGURE 41. Syagrus insignis. A. Palm in habitat in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro. B. Habit in Espirito Santo. C. Habit in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro. D. Palm with old inflorescences, note silvery abaxial side of leaf. E. Crown with maturing infructescence and blackish fibers from the petioles and leaf sheaths. F. Fruits with spitting epicarps and mesocarps. G. Endocarps with one sectioned to show homogenous endosperm and interior cavity. H. Infructescence. Grid is in centimeters. All photos by Harri Lorenzi with the exception of B and D.