Syagrus cataphracta ( Mart.) Noblick, 2017

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

9. Syagrus cataphracta ( Mart.) Noblick comb. et stat. nov. Cocos flexuosa var. cataphracta Martius (1826: 120) . No specimens cited by Martius , but mentioned Brazil. Bahia: Caetité as the locality. Neotype (designated here):— BRAZIL. Bahia: Caetité, Passagem da Pedra, 9 km sul da cidade perto o reservatorio da água para cidade [9 km S of the city close to the city reservoir], –14.07, –42.50, 26 May 1985, L.R. Noblick & Clodoaldo [José de Morais] 3787 (F!, HUEFS!)

Figure 12 plate, Figure 13 map.

Small to moderate, usually clustered but sometimes solitary, unarmed palm. Stem erect, 1–2.5(–4) m × (2–) 3–10 cm (ca. 15 cm in diameter with persistent leaf sheaths), dark gray, but usually obscured by persistent petiole bases. Leaves 6–10 in crown; sheathing leaf base 28–35 cm long, fibrous; pseudopetiole 17–34 cm in the sun but up to 70–173 cm in the shade of denser vegetation or when still without a stem, petiole 11–49 (130–157) × 0.6–1.0 cm, 0.3–0.5 cm thick with smooth margins; rachis 47–87 cm long; leaflets dark, glossy green above, glaucous or white waxy beneath, usually with no ramenta present along midrib, 22–71 along one side, irregularly distributed in clusters of 2–4, in divergent planes; basal leaflets 11–24 × 0.1–0.8 cm, middle leaflets 15–36 × 0.5–1.7 cm, apical leaflets 5–30 × 0.1–0.4 cm mostly with acuminate, asymmetric tips. Inflorescence erect, unilaterally branched; prophyll 10–17 × 1.8–2.0 cm; peduncular bract ca. 33–55 cm long, expanded portion 15–39 × 2.5–5.5 cm, including a 0.5–2 cm beak, 4–6.5 cm perimeter, 1–2 mm thickness, woody, sulcate, glaucous with patches of light brown tomentum, becoming glabrous with age; peduncle ca. 11–35 cm × 6–10 mm, 3–5 mm thick cm, elliptical in cross-section; inflorescence axis 16–30 cm long; rachis 7.5–16 cm long; rachillae (4–)7–16, 10–20 cm long at the base, 7–16 cm long at the apex, each rachilla subtended by a bract 0–7 mm long; staminate flowers 4–8 mm long at the apex, 7.3–14.6 × 1.8–3.7 mm at the base, yellow, sepals 1.0–2.2 × 0.5–1.5 mm, glabrous, nerves none to obscurely visible, petals 5.8–12.8 × 0.7–3.3 mm at the base, 4.4–7.3 mm long at the tip with acute to acuminate tips, glabrous, nerves indistinct to obscurely visible at the base, stamens 4.0– 5.8 mm long, anthers 2.2–4.8 mm long, filaments dorsifixed 0.7–3.1 mm long, pistillode ca. 0.4 mm; pistillate flowers elongate pyramidal, 9–16.4 × 3.7–8.8 mm at the apex, 9–20 × 5.8–12 mm at the base, dark yellow, sepals 8.8–18 × 3.7–8.2 mm, glabrous to scaly lepidote on the lower portion at least, no visible veins to slightly raised veins, petals 8.8–14.3 × 2.9–7.7 mm at the apex, 11–20 × 2.9–6.6 mm at the base, with slightly raised veins, valvate tips ¼–1/3 the length of the petal, ca. 2.2– 7.7 mm long, pistil 5.1–11.7(–15.3) × 1.8–3.7(–6.6) mm, glabrous, stigmas 3.7–5.9 mm long, staminodal ring 0.7– 2.9 mm high. Fruit ellipsoid, 2.5–3.0 × 1.4–1.5 cm, persistent perianth (cupule) light tan, epicarp smooth, glabrous or with patchy brown tomentum, green to yellowish-green at maturity, epicarp less than 0.5 mm thick, mesocarp 2 mm thick, whitish, sweet, succulent and fibrous; endocarp bony, brown, trivittate, 2.2 × 1.0 cm, 2 mm thick on the sides, with fibers present and scattered; seed 1.5 × 0.7 cm, endosperm homogeneous. Germination unknown.

Common name:— côco-de-raposa, ariri, côco-ariri, côco-de-ariri, côco-de-vaqueiro, côco-da-vassoura.

Etymology:— The name, cataphracta , meaning chain mail or breast-plate, may refer to the armored stem with its persistent leaf bases protecting it like armor.

Distribution and habitat:— Found in some high elevation disjunct cerrado, campo rupestre areas in the central part of the Bahia, Brazil, on sandstone outcrops or in fine sand (Abaira, Jussiape, Mucugê, Palmeiras, and Caetité).

Conservation:— Because this species grows in very rocky, campo rupestre vegetation in areas that are not agriculturally valuable, it is not considered to be threatened. It is also well protected within the borders of a national park in Bahia (Chapada Diamantina), and for the moment, it is classified as least concern, LC.

Phenology:— Flowers and fruits year around, but flowering appears to peak between November and April with fruiting in July to October.

Uses:— This palm has been used as an ornamental, although not commonly so. The fruits are edible. In Bahia, the leaves are layered in with wet mandioca (cassava) paste to distribute the pressure throughout the paste so that all parts of the paste are squeezed equally to remove water-soluble toxins, before drying over heat to make flour.

Notes:— Syagrus cataphracta is a small clustering, caulescent species and is easily distinguished from other Syagrus species by the large pistillate flowers, unilaterally arranged rachillae, dark bluish-green leaves with narrow clustered pinnae which have a whitish, waxy bloom beneath (especially when young). It has stiff, plumose leaves and large ellipsoid fruits. It has been confused with Syagrus flexuosa by its clustering habit, unilateral inflorescence and large flowers and fruits. However differs in having thinner stems, darker leaflets, and a waxy bloom on the underside of its somewhat coriaceous leaflets.

A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYAGRUS

Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 39 40 • Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press

NOBLICK

Martius described a variety of Cocos flexuosa from Bahia, but cited no specimens to confirm its identification. He named it Cocos flexuosa var. cataphracta and wrote, “caudice altiore, toto dense squamoso” [tree trunk taller, totally densely scaly]. Martius used the name ‘cataphracta ,’ and must have been referring to the stem retaining its coat of persistent leaf bases. Morphologically, Noblick 3787 from Caetité agrees with Martius’ description, and its leaflet anatomy was found to be nearly identical to those of the Chapada Diamantina region (Palmeiras, Lençois, Mucugê, Jussiape and Seabra). Therefore, Cocos flexuosa var. cataphracta is elevated to species level and placed in Syagrus .

Several characters distinguish S. cataphracta from the typical S. flexuosa . Syagrus cataphracta has leaflet anatomy that is typical of Eastern Brazil palms with large groups of clustered fiber strands running along the upper or adaxial part of the leaf ( Noblick 2013a). These large fiber strands are absent in S. flexuosa . Occasionally small fibers or fiber clusters may be present in S. flexuosa , but never the large ones present in S. cataphracta . Syagrus cataphracta leaflets usually have a white-glaucous or waxy coating on the underside of their stiffer, more coriaceous leaflets. Syagrus flexuosa has leaflets that are longer, more membranaceous and more pendulous at their tips and lacks the white, waxy bloom. Finally, S. cataphracta are normally smaller and less robust than S. flexuosa (1–2.5 vs. 3–5 m).

Representative specimens:— BRAZIL. Bahia: 1941, G. Bondar s.n. (F-404609!); Abaira, beira da Estrada Abaira-Catolés, 16 August 1998, A.M. Giulietti et al. 1463 (HUEFS!); Abaira, Distrito Catolés, Estrada para Serrinha e Bicota, 20 April 1998, L.P. de Queiroz et al. 5062 (HUEFS!); Andaraí, 15–20 km from Andaraí, along the road to Itaeté, which branches East off the road to Mucugê, 600 m, –12.85, –41.20, 13 February 1977, R.M. Harley 18657 (CEPEC!, K!); Andaraí, nova rodovia Andaraí/Mucugê, a 15–20 km ao S de Andaraí. ca. 800 m, 21 December 1979, S.A. Mori & Benton 13124 (CEPEC!, NY!); Barra da Estiva [formerly a part of Jequié], 1941, G. Bondar s.n. (F-620821!); Barra da Estiva, 4 km SW of the city, 940 m, –13.63, –41.32, 11 August 1988, L.R. Noblick et al. 4592 (CEPEC!, F!, K!); Caetité, Serra Geral de Caitite [sic] 9.5 km S of Caitite [sic] on road to Brejinhos das Ametistas, 1000 m, –14.12, –42.50, 13 April 1980, R.M. Harley 21351 (CEPEC!, K!); Caetité, Passagem da Pedra, 9 km sul da cidade perto o reservatorio da água para cidade, –14.07, –42.50, 26 May 1985, L.R. Noblick & Clodoaldo 3787 (F!, HUEFS!); Ituaçu, –13.69, –41.39, 1 July 1978, Araujo 55 (HRB!, RB!); Jussiape, ca. 16 km antes de Jussiape, na estrada de Capão de Volta, –13.45, –41.52, 10 June 2000, R.M. Harley & A.M. Giulietti 53948 (HUEFS!); Jussiape, ca. 10 km de Jussiape, em direção a Barra da Estiva, –13.45, –46.54, 15 June 2002, L.P. de Queiroz et al. 7128 (HUEFS!); Jussiape, Caraguatai, "Tobira" na serra, 1–2 km oeste de arrial de Tobira, 1000–1200 m, –13.37, –41.68, 27 January 1986, L.R. Noblick & J. Lobo 4516 (F!, HUEFS!); Lençois, BR-242, km 216, a 12 km ao N de Lençois, 400 m, –12.56, –41.39, 1 March 1980, S.A. Mori 13328 (CEPEC!, F!, NY!); Lençóis, Chapada Diamantina, Foz do rio Capivara, situado a 14 km de Lençóis, 950 m, –12.64, –41.37, 8 March 2000, M.T.S. Stradmann 721 (ALCB!, CEPEC); Mucugê, 1035 m, –12.97, –41.49, 2 October 2005, Carvalho-Sobrinho et al. 750 (HUEFS!); Mucugê, Alto do Morro do Pina, Estr. de Mucugê a Guiné, a 25 km N de Mucugê, –13.01, –41.37, 20 July 1981, A.M. Giulietti et al. 1530 (K!, SPF!, UFP); Mucugê, na estrada para Barra da Estiva a 16 km de Mucugê-BA, –13.01, –41.37, 5 February 2009, H. Lorenzi 6593 (HPL!); Palmeiras, estrada de Mucugê para palmeiras, 1000 m, –12.75, –41.50, D. Cardoso, & A.A. Concepcion 583 (HUEFS!); Palmeiras, Morro do Pai Inácio, 2 September 1985, J.L. de S. Lima & L.R. Noblick 99–107 (HTSA!); Palmeiras, Morro do Pai Inácio, 1000–1060 m, –12.45, –41.47, 19 November 1983, L.R. Noblick et al. 2821 (HUEFS!); Palmeiras, A mais ou menos 7 km da Serra do Pai Inácio, –12.73, –42, 2 September 1985, J.L. de S. Lima 69a (HTSA); Palmeiras, Pai Inácio, 900 m, –12.45, –41.47, 28 June 1995, M.L. Guedes 1988 (ALCB!, UFP); Palmeiras, Pai Inácio, 900 m, – 12.45, –41.47, 4 January 1966, A.M. de Carvalho 2148 (ALCB!); Palmeiras, Pai Inácio, –12.45, –41.47, 28 June 1997, M.L. Guedes 5229 (ALCB!); Palmeiras, Chapada Diamantina, Morro do Pai Inácio, 800 m, –12.45, –41.45, 19 September 1998, M.L. Guedes 6162 (ALCB!); Paraguaçu, Itaêté, Fazenda Baixão, Rio Una, 13 April 2001, M.L. Guedes 8855 (ALCB!); Seabra, Veredinha, 290 km W of Salvador, –12.42, –41.77, 21 August 1976, S.F. Glassman 13037–13040 (CEPEC!, F!, MO!, SP!); Seabra, Lagoa de Boa Vista, 800–900 m, –12.40, –41.78, 28 September 1985, L.R. Noblick 4386 (F!, HUEFS!).

Figures

FIGURE 12. Syagrus cataphracta. A. Clustering habit near Barra de Estiva, Bahia. B. Juvenile nearly stemless habit near Mucugê, Bahia. C. More mature palms near Mucugê, Bahia, showing thin stems with persistent leaf bases. D. Abaxial side of leaf showing waxy bloom. E. Inflorescence. F. Inflorescence showing unilaterally oriented rachillae. G. Inflorescence with receptive pistillate flowers and leaflets with abaxial waxy bloom near Palmeiras, Bahia. H. Infructescence. Photos A–F by Carlos Alex Guimarães and photo H by Ricardo Pimenta.

FIGURE 13. Distribution maps of Syagrus cataphracta, S. cearensis, S. cerqueirana, S. cocoides and S. comosa.