Syagrus stratincola Wessels Boer (1965: 170)

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

60. Syagrus stratincola Wessels Boer (1965: 170) . Type:— Suriname, Paloemeu River , upper Marowijne area, J.G. Wessels Boer 1303 (holotype U!, isotype BH!, F!, NY!)

Figure 82 plate, Figure 77 map.

Small to medium-sized, clustering palm. Stem ca. 2–4(–14) m × 5–8 cm. Leaves ca. 12; sheathing leaf base ca. 15–30 cm long; pseudopetiole 100–180 cm long, petiole ca. 10 × 1.2–2.5 cm; rachis 210–240 cm long; leaflets slightly lighter on the abaxial surface, 60–82 along one side, in clusters of 2–4, inserted at various angles, giving the leaf a plumose appearance, 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 60–70 × ca. 3 cm, apical leaflets not measured with an asymmetric tip. Inflorescence erect to pendulous, spirally branched; prophyll 22–30 × ca. 2.5 cm; peduncular bract 65–120 cm long, expanded portion 35–80 × 5–6 cm, including a 0–0.5 cm beak, 10–18 cm perimeter, 3–4 mm thickness, narrow, woody, sulcate, exterior with scattered thin indument; peduncle ca. 35–70 cm × 5–8 mm, elliptical in cross-section, tomentose; inflorescence axis 20–58 cm long; rachis 7–17 cm long; rachillae 10–15, glabrous, 15–20 cm long at the apex, 18–26 cm long at the base; staminate flowers 14–15 mm long at the apex, 17–20 mm long at the base, green to yellow, sepals 3–5 mm long, glabrous, petals 14 mm long at the apex, 20 × 5–6 mm at the base with acute tips, stamens not measured, anthers ca. 6 mm long, filaments ca. 2 mm long, pistillode less than 1 mm long; basal pistillate flowers elongate pyramidal, 16–25 × 6–7 mm, yellow, glabrous, sepals 15–25 × 5–7 mm, petals 13–19 × 3–5 mm, glabrous, pistil 11–17 × 3–4.5 mm, glabrous, stigmas not measured, glabrous, staminodal ring not measured. Fruit nearly globose, 4–4.5 × 3.7–4 cm, yellowish-green when mature, epicarp less than 0.5 mm thick, longitudinally grooved, mesocarp 3–5 mm thick, succulent and fibrous; endocarp ca. 3.5–5 × ca. 3.5 cm, 1.5–3 mm thick on its sides, ca. 5 mm thick at the ends; seed nearly globose, ca. 1.5–2.2 × 2.1–2.6 mm, endosperm homogeneous. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— akanauwirie, pali

Etymology:— Wessels Boer (1965) wrote “The species is named stratincola (statum, pavement) as it grows on granite plates.”

A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYAGRUS

Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 207 208 • Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press

NOBLICK

Distribution and habitat:— Found in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and probably in Amapa, Brazil, the extreme northern part of Brazil bordering the Guyanas, usually on rock outcrops (granitic inselbergs) in very thin soils.

Conservation:— Although rare throughout most of its distribution, because of its very specific habitat, this palm is well protected within the borders of the Guiana Amazonian National Park (Parc Amazonien de Guyane), which covers most of the southern half of French Guyana, but continues into Brazil in the form of the Parque Nacional Montanhas do Tumucumaque. It grows in some of the most remote and inaccessible regions of the Guyanas and Brazil –so remote that there are no collections of it from Brazil, even though the habitat is surely present in Amapa. It grows on nearly bare rock surfaces of isolated inselbergs in very thin soils, which are of no agricultural value. Therefore, this palm is not currently threatened and is classified as least concern, LC.

Phenology:— This species probably flowering and fruiting year around. Flowers, immature fruits, and fallen mature fruits were observed in the months of April and May.

Uses:— It is occasionally cultivated.

Notes:— The longitudinally grooved epicarp of its globose fruit is especially distinctive, as are its clustering habit and unusual inselberg habitat.

Representative specimens:— FRENCH GUIANA. Cayenne: Natural helicopter drop zone [DZ naturelle], Dalle rocheuse, á 3–4 km á ENE du Pic du Grand Croissant , Haute Crique Nouciri , [basin] affluent de l’Oyapock, 130 m, 2 December 1983, G. Cremers 8250 ( CAY!, P!, U!); Mont Chauve, Bassin de l’Approuague , fourré isolé de savane roche, face oueste de l’inselberg, 240 m, 3.82, –52.73, 27 April 1997, G. Cremers & F. Crozier 15219 ( CAY!, NY, P!, Spé); Natural helicopter drop zone [DZ naturelle], savane roche au Nord du piton rocheux Armontabo, basin de l’Armontabo, 24 February 1981, J.-J. de Granville 4394 ( CAY!, K!); Nouragues, Station des Nouragues , Bassin de l’Approuague , arataye, pied du versant sud, 100 m, 6 August 1989, J.-J. de Granville et al. 11079 ( CAY!, US); Roche Touatou, Bassin de l’Oyapock , 23 May 1995, J.-J. de Granville & G. Cremers 13052 (B, CAY!, K, NY, P!, U!, US); Station des Nouragues , Bassin de l’Approuague , 1 November 1989, D. Larpin 772 ( CAY!) ; Montagne des Nouragues, Bassin de l’Approuague , 1 December 1989, D. Larpin 839 ( CAY!) ; GUYANA. Base of Roosevelt Peak, 140 m, 1977, H.E. Moore et al. 10329 ( BH, F!); SURINAM. Near Paloemeu airstrip, along Paloemeu River , upper Marowijne area, 0–100 m, 3.33, –55.42, 16 April 1963, J.G. Wessels Boer 1303 ( BH!, F!, NY!, U!); Tapanaboni River , 100 m, 14 August 1904, G.M. Versteeg 805 (U!) .

Figures

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

FIGURE 82. Syagrus stratincola. A–B. Palm in habitat on Pic du Grand Crossant, Camopi, French Guiana. C. Cultivated specimen in Cayenne, French Guiana near CAY herbarium. D. Inflorescence. E. Newly emerged flowers. F. Infructescence. G. Close of infructescence showing fruits with spit apices. H. Fruits showing deeply grooved epicarp. White scale = 2 cm. Photos A and B by Emile Piqard.