Syagrus gouveiana Noblick & Lorenzi (2010b: 30)

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

23. Syagrus gouveiana Noblick & Lorenzi (2010b: 30) . Type:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Municipio de Gouveia , collected on the Gouveia/Curvelo road 20 km from Gouveia [km 479 on BR-259], 1,269 m [ca. 1,200–1,270 m], – 18.59, –43.90, 14 November 2008, H. Lorenzi 6537 (holotype HPL!, isotypes ESA!, K!, NY!, RB!, SP!)

Figure 32 plate, Figure 29 map.

Small, solitary palm, usually less than 1 m tall. Stem with a very short or subterranean stem, appearing acaulescent. Leaves 3 or 4 arching, less than 1 m long, the general coloration medium to light green; sheathing leaf base 12–26 cm long with fibrous margins, pseudopetiole 16–31 cm long; petiole smooth 2–8 cm long; rachis 42–75 cm long; leaflets 30–60 along each side, linear, rigid-coriaceous with apex acute or rounded, asymmetric, concolorous, distributed irregularly in clusters of 2 or 3, inserted at different angles along the rachis, no ramenta scales or tomentum present where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis, and none or only a few simple hairs along the abaxial midvein; basal leaflets 9–26 × 0.2–0.6 cm, middle leaflets 18–25 × 1.2–2.0 cm, apical leaflets 6–14 × 0.3– 0.7 cm. Inflorescence erect, spicate or branched; prophyll 9–17 × 1.5–3.5 cm; peduncular bract 28–47 cm long, expanded part 14–24 × 4–6 cm; peduncle 17–28 cm long; inflorescence axis 8–15 cm long; rachis 0–5 cm; rachillae 1–6, 5–11 cm long; flowers usually arranged in triads, but occasionally arranged in tetrads with two central pistillate flowers each of which is flanked by a staminate flower, both staminate and pistillate flowers normally have 3 sepals and 3 petals, but occasionally have 4; staminate flowers 12–14 × 5–7 mm, sepals 2–3 × less than 1 mm, glabrous, petals 10 × 3–4 mm with acute tips, nerves indistinct to slightly raised, stamens 4.5–5.0 mm long, anthers 4 mm long, filaments 1.5 mm long, pistillode not measured; pistillate flowers elongate conical, ca. 10 × 4 mm at the apex, 13–15 × 5–6 mm at the base, glabrous, sepals 14–15 × 5–6 mm, petals 11–13 × 4–5 mm, valvate tips ca. 1/3 the length of the petals, ca. 3–5 mm long, glabrous, pistil 8–9 × 4–5 mm, glabrescent, stigmas 3–4 mm long, staminodal ring ca. 2 mm high, 6-dentate. Fruit globose, 1.7–2.4 cm in diameter, yellowish brown, epicarp less than 0.5 mm thick, mesocarp not measured, succulent and fibrous (pulpy); endocarp 1.6–2.2 × 1.5–1.7 cm, thickness on its sides not measured; seed more or less ellipsoid, not measured, endosperm homogeneous. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— coquinho-da-pedra.

Etymology:— Named for the closest town to where it was first discovered, Gouveia, Minas Gerais.

Distribution and habitat:— Occurs in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the Cadeia do Espinhaço region (near Gouveia), in high elevation campo rupestre or cerrado, and generally in well-drained rocky terrain.

Conservation:— This palm has a very restricted distribution near Gouveia, Minas Gerais and is known from only one location. However, little exploration of the area has occurred to determine the true extent of its population. Even though it grows in rocky soils of low agricultural value, it could still be threatened by conversion to pasture. Based on its very small, restricted geographic range outside of a park or preserve, it is classified as critically endangered, EN B1 2ab(i,ii,v).

Phenology:— Flowering with some immature fruit in June.

Uses:— The plant is ornamental, could be cultivated with success in landscaping in full sun, as much in tropical regions as subtropical (tolerates weak freezes).

Notes:— This is an acaulescent palm with coriaceous, concolorous leaves which occasionally has 4 parted instead of 3 parted flowers and with flowers occasionally arranged in tetrads (two female flowers flanked on either side by a male flower) instead of the normal triads. The author was surprised to find this condition on more than one plant in the population.

Specimen examined:— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Gouveia, Serra do Espinhaço , Serra da Diamantina, 1200 m, –18.59, –43.90, 9 June 2009, L.R. Noblick & R. Campos s.n. ( HPL!) .

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 32. Syagrus gouveiana. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence with two sets of pistillate flowers part of a quatrad. C. Infructescence. D. Endocarps. E. Close-up of leaf showing concolorous leaflets. F. Staminate flowers above and dissected 4 parted pistillate flower below including the pistil with its 4th petal still attached. G. Spicate and branched inflorescence. All grids are in centimeters.