Syagrus glaucescens Glaz. ex Beccari (1916: 470)

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

21. Syagrus glaucescens Glaz. ex Beccari (1916: 470) . Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Biribiry, Prés Diamantina , 28 March 1892, A.F.M. Glaziou 20024 (holotype FI, isotype C, F!, K!, MO, P!)

Figure 30 plate, Figure 29 map.

Moderately-sized, solitary palm. Stem ca. 0.5–4 m × (8–) 10–12 cm angular in appearance, with persistent leaf bases or leaf scars arranged in rows with no or indistinct internodes. Leaves 5–15; sheathing leaf base ca. 42–52 × 6–8 cm; pseudopetiole 28–55 cm long; petiole 6–36 × 1.4–2.0 cm, 0.7–1.0 cm thick; rachis (55–) 62–118 cm long; leaflets slightly lighter on the abaxial surface, (38–)59–79 along one side, in clusters of 3–5, inserted at various angles, giving the leaf a plumose appearance, no ramenta scales present where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis, and none along the abaxial midvein; basal leaflets 11–34 × 0.1–1.0 cm, middle leaflets 16–29(–35) × 1.5–

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NOBLICK

3.0 cm, apical leaflets 1.5–6 × 0.2–1.0 cm with an asymmetric tip. Inflorescence erect or pendulous, spirally branched; prophyll ca. 18 × 2.5 cm; peduncular bract (35–) 39–85 cm, expanded portion 25–40 × 4–9 cm, including a 0.5–3.0 cm beak, 5.5–12 cm perimeter, 2–4 mm thickness, narrow, woody, sulcate, exterior with scattered thin indument; peduncle ca. 21–64 cm × 7–9 mm, 3–6 mm thick, elliptical in cross-section, glabrous; inflorescence axis 16–30 cm long; rachis 5–16 cm long; rachillae 5–17, glabrous, 6–15 cm long at the apex, 8–19 cm long at the base; staminate flowers 8–12 mm long at the apex, 14–17 × 3–4 mm at the base, green to yellow, sepals 1.5–2.5 × (0.5–) 2–2.5 mm, glabrous, with no visible nerves, petals 8–11 mm long at the apex, 9–14 × 2–4 mm at the base, with acute tips, glabrous, nerves slightly raised, stamens 6–8.5 mm long, anthers 5–7.5 mm long, filaments 1–2 mm long, pistillode less than 1 mm long, ca. 0.6 mm long; basal pistillate flowers elongate pyramidal, 10–17 × 6.0– 7.5 mm, yellow, sepals 10–15 × 6–7 mm, glabrous with no visible nerves, keeled, petals 8– 12 × 4–6 mm, glabrous, with slightly raised nerves, valvate tips 1/3 to nearly 4/5 the length of the petal, ca. 3–8 mm long, pistil 6–9 × 4–6 mm, glabrous, stigmas less than 3–4 mm long, glabrous, staminodal ring ca. 0.7–2 mm high, 6-dentate. Fruit ellipsoid, 2–3 × 1.6–2.5 cm, brownish when mature, covered with a short lepidote, epicarp less than 0.5 mm thick, mesocarp 1–2 mm thick, succulent and fibrous; endocarp ellipsoid to ovoid, ca. 2–2.8 × 1.7–2.1 cm, (2–) 3–4 mm thick on the sides, 4–9 mm thick at the tips; seed more or less ellipsoid ca. 1.2–1.4 × 1.1–1.2 cm, endosperm homogeneous. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— coco-da-pedra, palmeirinha-azul, blue-rock-coconut

Etymology:— The specific epithet, glaucescens , means glaucous and refers to the grayish or bluish green of the leaves due to the waxy bloom present on both sides of the leaflets.

Distribution and habitat:— Endemic to the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais in the Cadeia do Espinhaço in cerrado and high elevation campo rupestre over rocky terrain and in very rocky soils. This species has the greatest distribution of the entire S. glaucescens complex, which also includes S. duartei to the south and the acaulescent S. evansiana to the north along with some confusing intermediates. This species is most abundant in the region near Diamantina, but specimens have been seen as far south as the northern edge of the Serra do Cipó Nacional Park and as far north as Mendanha.

Conservation:— Because this palm grows so slowly and it is sought after by plant collectors, it is threatened in its natural habitat. Nevertheless, its rocky habitat makes it very difficult for the poachers to dig it up successfully or for fire to reach it. This species is protected within the boundaries of a national park (Diamantina) and also in other areas that are environmentally protected; however that does not stop poachers. It also does not grow in agriculturally valuable soils. However outside of these protected areas its habitat continues to decline and the total extent of its occurrence (EOO) is probably under 20,000 km 2 and for that reason it is classified as vulnerable, VU B1ab(iii).

Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting in September. This species fruits moderately during the months of spring and summer (September–March). Propagation is only by seed, but the germination rate is low, and it germinates slowly, taking as long as 6 months.

Uses:— Palms with notable ornamental characteristics like bluish-green foliage are sought by landscapers. For its rustic beauty, it possesses the potential for cultivation in general landscaping in both tropical and subtropical regions.

Notes:— This species is s imilar to S. duartei , but S. glaucescens has smaller fruits (2.5 vs. 3.0–4.0 cm) and unlike S. duartei , this species always has an upright stem. The smaller fruits and endocarps are more ellipsoid in S. glaucescens , but globose or even broader than long in S. duartei . The number of rachillae (ca. 5–8 for S. duartei vs. 5–17 for S. glaucescens ) is not a reliable character, although it has been used previously ( Lorenzi et al. 2010) to distinguish these two species.

Representative specimens:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Biribiry , 26 March 1892 , Herb. Schwake 8471 ( RB!); Conceição do Mato Dentro, Cava do Sapo , 950 m, –18.91, –43.43, February 2012 , L.B. Carvalho s.n. ( BHCB); Conceição do Mato Dentro, Parque Natural Municipal do Ribeirão do Campo , 9 November 2002 , R.C. da Mota & P.L. Viana 1693 ( BHCB); Conceição do Mato Dentro , –19.00, –43.40,14 August 2012 , E. Tameirão Neto & C.V. Vidal 5086 ( BHCB); Conselheiro Matar, Próximo à Rodovia Diamantina-Belo Horizonte , entrando em estrada de terra 1 km antes da Saída para Conselheiro Matar. Aflorações rochosas a 2 km da rodovia, 500 m antes da Porteira da Fazenda Rio Pardo , 4 November 1993 , A.M. Benko-Isepon s.n. ( UFP); Datas , –18.45, –43.66, 20 August 1987 , R.A. Cytryn 09 ( RB!); Datas , Estrada Curvelo-Diamantina, KM 110, –18.45, –43.66, 5 April 1983 , G. Martinelli 9168 ( RB!); Datas, Datas & Morro do Coco (1 km do entroncamento para Diamantina ), 1200–1300 m, 24 March 1986 ,

A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYAGRUS

Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 87 R. Mello-Silva et al. 9768 (K, SPF 43013!); Diamantina, ca. 15 km de Diamantina, na rod. Mendanha-Diamantina, 1119 m, –18.19, –43.52, 9 November 2002, Araújo, A.O. et al. 158 (ESA!); Diamantina, –18.25, –43.60, 20 August 1987, R.A. Cytryn 05 (RB!); Diamantina, Serra do Biribiry. 7 km W of Diamantina. In cerrado, rocky soil, –18.25, – 43.60, 15 July 1965, S.F. Glassman 8111, 8112, 8114, 8116 (F!, RB, SP!); Diamantina, Serra do Gombo. 18 km NW

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NOBLICK of Diamantina, Cerrado , rocky soil, –18.25, –43.60, 15 July 1965, S.F. Glassman 8159 ( SP!) ; Diamantina , Rio Pardo-Rodovia Linha Verde-Conselheiro Mata, –18.25, –43.60, 25 July 1998, G. Hatschbach 68248 ( HUFU, MBM!) ; Diamantina , –18.25 –43.60, 23 October 1999, G. Hatschbach 69594 ( MBM!) ; Diamantina, Campo Rupestre , –18.25, –43.60, June 1990, K.I. Horst 61 ( MBML!) ; Diamantina , Norte de Diamantina, Direção de Araçuai , July 1990, K.I. Horst 76 ( MBML!) ; Diamantina, Serra do Espinhaço , ca. 23 km E of Diamantina, 900 m, 15 March 1970, H.S. Irwin 27605 ( NY!) ; Diamantina, APA Pau-de-Fruta-COPASA, –18.25, –43.60, 13 February 2001, J.A. Lombardi 4240 ( BHCB) ; Diamantina , na estrada para Monjolos a ca. de 3 km da rodovia, 1400 m, – 18.27, –43.71, 19 January 2010, H. Lorenzi 6799 ( HPL!) ; Diamantina, Estrada Turmalina / Diamantina , MG-2, 33 km de Diamantina, –18.25, –43.60, 13 May 1979, G. Martinelli 5918 ( RB!) ; Diamantina, Fazenda do "Seu Geraldão," acesso por Inhaí , 1154 m, –17.93, –43.89, 2 May 2010, C.B.R. Munhoz et al. 7172 ( UB!) ; Diamantina , ca. 10 km N of the city on BR-367, the road to Mendanha, 1000–1100 m, –18.25, –43.60, 19 March 1992, L.R. Noblick 4843 ( BHCB!, F!, FTG!, K!, NY!, US!) ; Diamantina , near Mendanha, 1 km S of the Rio Jequitinonha on BR-367, 400–500 m, –18.12, –43.50, 19 February 1992, L.R. Noblick 4845 ( BHCB!, FTG!) ; Diamantina, Cachoeira da Sentinela , –18.01, –43.62, 21 September 2000, J.R. Stehmann et al. 2671 ( BHCB) ; Diamantina, estrada Diamantina-Conselheiro Mata , km 185, 28 January 1986, D.C. Zappi et al. 9371 ( SPF 42629 !) ; Diamantina, estrada Diamantina-Biribiri , ca. 6 km de Diamantina, 1200 m, –18.22, –43.62, 19 July 1987, D.C. Zappi et al. 11090 ( SPF!) ; Lagoa Santa , Serra do Cipó , Trilha para Poço Azul, –19.35, –43.62, 4 November 2009, R.C. Oliveira & Chacon, R.G. 2489 ( UB!) ; Mendanha , Vicinity of Mendanha, –18.25, –43.60, 24 September 1936, W.A. Archer 4078 ( BH!, RB!, US!) ; Mendanha , 5 km SE of Mendanha, 13 August 1976, S. Glassman 13002 (F!, FTG!) ; Mendanha , estrada para Diamantina, ca. 5 km de Mendanha, 800 m, –18.14, –43.50, 24 February 2002, V.C. Souza et al. 28323, 28324 ( ESA!) ; Rio Vermelho , Pedra Menina , Serra do Ambrósio, Morro da Virada do Mato Virgem, 31 July 1985, R. Mello-Silva et al. 7833 ( SPF 38799 !) ; Santana do Riacho , Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó, 1122 m, –19.28, –43.59, 1 October 2010, S.B. Reis & V.S. Azevedo 2 ( BHCB) ; Santana do Riacho , Serra do Cipó, km 135, –19.17, –43.71, 27 April 1978, G. Martinelli 4419 ( RB) ; São Gonçalo do Rio Preto , Parque Estadual do Rio Preto, –18.00, –43.33, 17 November 1999, J.A. Lombardi s.n. ( BHCB) ; Serro , Milho Verde, – 18.60, –43.38, 24 July 2002, R.C. Mota da 1610 ( BHCB) ; Serro , Grota Seca. São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras, – 18.60, –43.38, without date, no collector ( BHCB) ; Without specific locality: Minas Gerais, A.F.M. Glaziou 20024 (K!, MO) ; Minas Gerais , June 1990, K.I. Horst 64 ( MBML!) ; Minas Gerais , 1816–1821, A. Saint-Hilaire de 1232 (P!) .

Figures

FIGURE 29. Distribution maps of Syagrus flexuosa, S. glaucescens, S. glazioviana, S. gouveiana, S. graminifolia subsp. cabraliensis, S. graminifolia subsp. glazioviana, S. graminifolia subsp. graminifolia and S. guimaraesensis.

FIGURE 30. Syagrus glaucescens. A. Habitat and habit of palms. B. Palms on very rocky terrain. C. Habit. D. Stem with closely spaced internodes and sheath remains arranged in rows. E. Endocarps F. Inflorescence with young developing fruits. G. Infructescence. Grid is in 0.5 centimeters.