Syagrus × andrequiceana Soares & Assis (2013b: 90)

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

67. Syagrus × andrequiceana Soares & Assis (2013b: 90) . ( S. romanzoffiana × S. flexuosa )

Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: município de Datas, near Córrego Andrequicé , –18.56, –43.64, 17 October 2012, K. Soares, L. Assis & A. G. Vieira 46 (holotype HDCF!) .

Figure 90 map.

Large to moderate, solitary palm with columnar Stem ca. 5–13 m × 14–21 cm with persistent leaf bases. Leaves 15–26, spirally arranged; sheathing leaf base ca. 57–93 cm long, margins with hair-like fibers; pseudopetiole 46– 67 cm long, petiole 6–10 × 1.8–2 cm, with whitish or grayish, scurfy, mealy, more or less deciduous tomentum abaxially; rachis 164–190 cm long with tomentum; leaflets long lanceolate, more or less pendulous, leathery, dark green and slightly lighter on the abaxial surface, conspicuous transverse veins on the adaxial surface, 100–120 along one side, in clusters of 3–5, inserted at various angles in 3 or 4 planes, giving the leaf a plumose appearance, but fairly separated from each other, ramenta scales or tomentum present but scarce where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis and along the abaxial midvein; basal leaflets 50–55 × 0.9–1.1 cm, middle leaflets 52–58 × 1.8–2.2 cm, apical leaflets 26–39 × 0.7–0.9 cm with an asymmetric tip. Inflorescence erect to pendulous, branched; prophyll 35 × 6 cm; peduncular bract 103–145 cm long, green, narrow, woody, sulcate, expanded portion 38–100 × 7.5–17 cm, including a 5–6 cm beak; peduncle ca. 38–70 × 1.5–2 cm, elliptical in cross-section, densely covered with tomentum; inflorescence axis ca. 40–85 cm long; rachis 27–60 cm long; rachillae 42–61, 8–24 cm long at the apex, 16–35 cm long in the middle, 25–40 cm long at the base, basal rachillae are arranged unilaterally on the rachis but arranged spirally near the apex; staminate flowers 7–9 mm long, cream, yellow-green or yellow, sepals ca. 1 mm long, petals 6–8 × 3 mm with acute tips, stamens ca. 4 mm long, anthers 4 mm long dorsifixed below the middle, filaments not measured, pistillode ca. 1 mm long; basal pistillate flowers ovoid, 8–10 × 7 mm, yellow, sepals 8–10 × 6–9 mm, petals 6–7 × 6–7 mm, glabrous, pistil ovoid, 8–9.5 × 5 mm, stigmas not measured, glabrous. Fruit ovoid, 4–5 × 2–2.5 cm, yellow orange or greenish yellow when mature, epicarp less than 0.5 mm thick, mesocarp thickness not measured, succulent and fibrous; endocarp ovoid, 2.2–3.2 × 1.2–1.6 cm; seed ellipsoid, endosperm homogeneous.

Common name:— None recorded.

Etymology:— The specific epithet, andrequiceana , refers to Andrequicé stream beside which the first individuals of these hybrids were found growing. It is located near Datas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

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NOBLICK

Distribution and habitat:— This hybrid is relatively common in areas where S. flexuosa and S. romanzoffiana grow together, several hybrids were observed in the municipality of Datas, Minas Gerais, including some backcrossing of the hybrid and S. romanzoffiana . Other specimens were also seen in Belo Horizonte on Santa Rosa Avenue and in Parque das Mangabeiras, Vale Verde farm in Betim, Minas Gerais, and near Rio Manso, Minas Gerais, close to the road MG-831.

A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYAGRUS

Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 227

Phenology:— Unknown.

Uses:— None recorded.

Notes:— It has characteristics intermediate between S. romanzoffiana and S. flexuosa . It differs from S. romanzoffiana by having a thinner stem, persistent leaf sheaths, deeper leaf scars (when they fall), larger pistillate flowers, larger fruit and endocarp, endocarp with a smooth endocarpal wall vs. an irregular wall that penetrates into the endosperm and the unilateral arrangement of the rachillae on the rachis. That is, on the first quarter of the rachis, the rachillae are arranged unilaterally similar to S. flexuosa ; but all the rest of the rachillae are spirally arranged. It differs from S. flexuosa by having a larger, solitary stem and by having most of the rachillae spirally arranged along the rachis. This palm hybrid grows rapidly and is fertile. Although it produces few seeds per inflorescence, the seeds germinate easily.

Representative specimens:— Known only from the type specimen.

Figures

FIGURE 90. Distribution map of Syagrus hybrids. S. × altopalacioensis, S. × andrequiceana, S. × campos-portoana, S. × cipoensis, S. comosa × elata, S. × costae, S. × lacerdamourae, S. × matafome, S. × mirandana, S. × serroana, S. × teixeiriana, and S. × tostana.