Syagrus orinocensis (Spruce) Burret (1937: 695)

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

43. Syagrus orinocensis (Spruce) Burret (1937: 695) . Cocos orinocensis Spruce (1871: 161) . Calappa orinocensis (Spruce) Kuntze (1891: 982) . Lectotype (designated by Glassman [1969: 102]):— COLOMBIA. In rupibus secus Mayapures, Spruce 49 (K!)

Syagrus allenii Glassman (168: 285) Type :— Meta, llanos de San Martin, 21 October 1945, P.H. Allen 3352 (holotype MO!, isotype BH).

Figure 61 plate, Figure 60 map.

Moderately-sized, solitary (rarely clustering) palm. Stem ca. 3–12 m (– 18 m, fide Spruce) × 7–15 cm, caulescent, smooth. Leaves 8–10; sheathing leaf base ca. 41–110 × ca. 9–10 cm; pseudopetiole 40–75 cm long; petiole 5–8 × 1.5–2.0 cm, 0.5–1.0 cm thick; rachis 147–250 cm long; leaflets slightly lighter on the abaxial surface, 60–107 along one side, in clusters of 2–4 or single, inserted at various angles, giving the leaf a plumose appearance, ramenta scales present where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis and on the basal portion of the leaflet along the abaxial midvein; basal leaflets 34–44 × 0.3–0.8 cm, middle leaflets 40–77 × 2–4 cm, apical leaflets 18–33 × 0.3– 0.5 cm with acuminate or asymmetric oblique tips. Inflorescence erect to pendulous, spirally branched; prophyll 22–48 × 4–6 cm; peduncular bract 75–122 cm long, expanded portion 40–76 × 9–10 cm, including a 1–2.5 cm beak, 11–15.5 cm perimeter, 2–4 mm thickness, narrow, woody, sulcate, exterior covered with a thin indument; peduncle ca. 35–65 × 1.2–2.0 cm, 0.8–1.2 cm thick, elliptical in cross-section, glabrous to thin indument; inflorescence axis 30–63 cm long; rachis 15–45 cm long, lower portion with thin indument, upper glabrous; rachillae 19–48, glabrous, 10–20 cm long at the apex, 28–45 cm long at the base; staminate flowers 5–9 mm long at the apex, 8–12 × 4.5–5 mm at the base, green to yellow, sepals 1–1.5 × less than 1 mm, glabrous, petals 7–10 × 2–4 mm with acute tips, nerves indistinct to slightly raised at the base, glabrous, stamens 5–7 mm long, anthers 5– 6 mm long, filaments ca. 2 mm long, pistillode less than 1 mm long; basal pistillate flowers conical, 5–8 × 5–7 mm, yellow, glabrous, sepals 5–8 × 5–6 mm, glabrous, petals 5–7 × 4–6 mm, glabrous, valvate tips ca. 2/5 the length of the petal, ca. 2 mm long, pistil 3–5 × 2–3.5 mm, glabrous, stigmas less than 1–2 mm long, glabrous, staminodal ring ca. 1–2 mm high, 6-dentate. Fruit globose to ovoid, (2.5–) 3–4 × 1.9–2.2 cm, yellow when mature, mostly glabrous, not splitting at its tip, epicarp less than 1 mm thick, mesocarp 1–2 mm thick, succulent and fibrous; endocarp ca. 2.6–3.2 × 1.7–1.8 cm, 1–2 mm on the sides, 2.5–4 mm thick at the ends, the endocarp cavity slightly triangular in cross-section; seed ellipsoid, triangular in cross-section, ca. 1.6–1.9 × 1.2–1.4 cm, endosperm homogeneous. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— cococito, coquito.

Etymology:— The specific epithet, orinocensis , refers to the Orinoco River, close to where this palm was first collected in the southern part of Venezuela, and south of which this palm is very common.

Distribution and habitat:— In southern Colombia and Venezuela it is common on rock outcrops near the Orinoco River. It is possibly found in Brazil bordering Venezuela and Colombia, on monolithic granite rock outcrops or massifs, in thin soils. However, there are no confirmed collections of it from that region. It is resistant to drought and grows in rocky crevices.

Conservation:— This species has a wide distribution and grows in inaccessible areas (rock outcrops) and in soils or habitats of little agricultural value. It produces an abundance of fruits, whose seeds germinate well. It is classified as least concern, LC.

Phenology:— Syagrus orinocensis has mature fruits early in May, and the seeds germinate quickly. Seeds germinate in 1 or 2 months.

Uses:— Stems are used for construction of buildings, and the fruits are eaten by humans and animals. The plant has potential as a landscape plant. Seedlings and older plants do not transplant well, but are a natural choice for use in tropical rock gardens.

Notes:— This is a solitary, rock-loving palm, often with thin trunks and flaccid leaflets. It should not be confused with S. stenopetala , which has clustering trunks and stiffer leaflets. Endocarp cavity is slightly triangular in cross-section (see notes for S. stenopetala ).

Representative specimens:— COLOMBIA. Amazonas: Corregimiento de Araracuara, orilla derecha del río Caquetá, frente a la segunda isla cerca a la chagra de Horacio , 26 September 1987, G.A. Galeano & H. Huitoto 1322 ( NY) ; Amazonas. Corregimiento de Puerto Santander, trocha a la Chorrera , 28 September 1987, G.A. Galeano & H. Huitoto 1330 ( NY) ; Meta: North side of river near junction of Guejar and Zanza rivers, north end of cordillera Meta, Llanos de San Martin , 3.69, –73.71, 21 October 1945, P.H. Allen 3352 ( BH, MO!) ; Meta: Los

A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYAGRUS

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NOBLICK lanos, Rio Casanare, Esmeralda, 1938, J. 43 3860 (COL); Meta: Rio Guayabero, 1939, J. Cuatrecasas 7559 (COL); Meta: llanos orientales, 1941, A. Dugand & R. Jaramillo 2907 (COL); Meta: Qenane R., near highway from Villavicencio to Puerto Lopez, 1941, D. Fairchild 1062 (COL); Meta: between Acacias and San Martin, orillas del Rio Guuamae, 1959, V.M. Patiño s.n. (COL); La Marcarena, Rio Guayabero, 1959, H.G. Barriga & R. Jaramillo 17061 (COL); Macarena, North side of river near junction of Guejar and Zanza rivers, north end of Cordillera Macarena, 500 m, 19 August 1950, S.G. Smith 1460 (BH, COL, GH, MO!, NY!, US!); Mesa la Lindosa, S of San José del Guaviare, 1950, J.M. Idrobo & R.E. Schultes 679 (COL); Mesetas. Inspección de Policía La Uribe, Vereda "La Reforma" ("El Salado"), sito "El Oso," 670 m, 4.03, –74.25, 10 August 1989, J. Betancur 1315 (NY!); Puerto López. Llanos Orientales; al SE de Cabuyaro, alrededores de la Laguna de Yurimena [vicinity of Laguna de Yurimena], 175–200 m, 4.28, –72.69, 16 September 1958, R. Jaramillo Mejía et al. 1258 (COL, NY!); San José del Guaviare, 1939, J. Cuatrecasas 7487 (COL); San José del Guaviare, 3.8811, –72.8667, 12 November 1939, J. Cuatrecasas, J. 7708, 7709 (F!); San Martin, Llanos Orientales, 35 km al Este de San Martín, al Norte del Caño Camoa, 12 September 1963, J. Blydenstein 1688 (COL, MO!); Vaupés: Rio Cuduyari, 1944, P.H. Allen 3277 (BH, MO); Vichada. Cano Urimica, Graviotas, 7 May 1978, M.J. Balick 1192 (NY!); Vichada: ca. 25 km E of Cumaribo along the unimproved dirt road between Las Gaviotas and Santa Rita, 140 m, 4.518, –69.58, 28–29 December 1973, G. Davidse 5295 (MO); Vichada, "Laja" outcrops behind Casuarito, across from Puerto Ayacucho, 100 m, 5.67, –67.67, 4 April 1984, A.H. Gentry 46343 (MO); VENEZUELA. Amazonas: Apure, Distrito Pedro Camejo; Piedra de Murciélago, 6 airline km NW of Puerto Páez. 80–140 m, 6.25, –67.48, 26 February 1978, G. Davidse 14549 (MO); Atures. Bosque Medio en peniplanicie en el sector "El Porvenir" a 54 km al S de Pto. Ayacucho por la carretera hacia Samariapo, 100 m, 5.33, –67.75, 20 January 1989, N. Cuello A. 439 (NY); Atures: 23 km NE of Puerto Ayacucho along the road to El Burro, 80–150 m, 5.8500000, –67.48, 17 April 1978, G. Davidse 15286 (BH!, MO); Atures, Rincones de Chacorro, aprox. 30 km al N de Puerto Ayacucho, al Este de la carretera hacia El burro. Sobre laja granítica en la ribera Sur del Caño Galipero, 80 m, 5.80, –67.33, 2 December 1979, O. Huber 4748 (NY!, US); Puerto Ayacucho, 23 km N of Puerto Ayacucho on the road to Puerto Páez, 200– 400 m, 5.67, –67.67, 22 June 1994, L.R. Noblick et al. 4946 (FTG!); Puerto Ayacucho, 17 km S of Puerto Ayacucho on the road to Samariapo and 5 km W on the road to Pintado, 200–400 m, –5.50, –67.42, 22 June 1994, L.R. Noblick, et al. 4948 (FTG!, PORT!); Puerto Ayacucho, July 1967, J.G. Wessels Boer 1873 (F!, U); Puerto Ayacucho, between airport and Río Cataniapo, 5.67, –67.63, 25 July 1967, J.G. Wessels Boer 1877 (NY, U); Puerto Ayacucho Dept, 1940, L. Williams 13138 (F!, US, VEN). Bolívar: Cedeño. Vicinity of Panare village of Corozal, 6 km from Maniapure toward Caicara, 400 m, 6.92, –66.50, 18 May 1986, B.M. Boom & S. Wentzel 6616 (NY!); Bolívar. Piedra Marimare, east bank of Rio Orinoco opposite head of Isla el Gallo, 100–200 m, 19 December 1956, J.J. Wurdack 40852 (NY!, U); Sanariapo, 120 m, 4 July 1942, L. Williams 16019 ( US).

Figures

FIGURE 60. Distribution maps of Syagrus oleracea, S. orinocensis, S. petraea, and S. picrophylla.

FIGURE 61. Syagrus orinocensis. A. Population near Puerto Ayacucho, Amazonas, Venezuela (Noblick et al. 4946). B. Crown with flexible leaves. C. Group of palms near Puerto Ayacucho. D. Author collecting an inflorescence. E. Habit of palm at MBC, note the swollen base of the stem. F. Infructescences and inflorescence. G. Receptive pistillate flowers. H. Mature fruits.