A revision of the genus Syagrus (Arecaceae) Noblick, Larry R. Phytotaxa 2017 2017-02-01 294 1 448 450 53K9D (Jacq.) Martius (1847: 132) Martius 132 1847 Jacq. [179,664,943,968] Liliopsida Arecaceae Syagrus Plantae Arecales 21 Tracheophyta species amara   Figure 5plate, Figure 4map. Solitary, moderate to large, unarmed palms, with the Stem 6–20 m× 14–24 cm. Leaves9–22, leaf sheath plus the petiole 99–138 cmlong; sheathing leaf baseca. 90–100 cmlong; pseudopetiole 60–93 cmlong; petiole0–20 × 3.3–6 cm, 1.5–3.0 cm thick; rachis 206–364 cmlong; leafletsslightly lighter on the abaxial surface, 99–156 along one side, in clusters of 2–4 (mostly 3), 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 22–70 × 0.2–0.8 cm, middle leaflets 63–98 × 3.5–6.0 cm, apical leaflets 16–37 × 0.3–1.3 cmwith an asymmetric tip. Inflorescenceerect or pendulous, spirally branched; prophyll39–59 × 6–11 cm; peduncular bract 80–165 cmlong, expanded portion 60–102 × 5.5–28 cm, including a 0–8(–10) cm beak, 13.5–32 cmperimeter, a 2–4 mmthickness, narrow, woody, sulcate, exterior with scattered thin indument; peduncleca. 20–67 × 3–4(–4.5) cm, 1.5–3.0 cm thick, elliptical in cross-section, glabrous; inflorescence axis 46–84 cmlong; rachis 35–59 cmlong; rachillae52–88, glabrous, 9–27 cmlong at the apex, 23–55 cmlong at the base; staminate flowers7–10 × 5.5–8 mmat the apex, 10–13 × 5.5–8 mmat the base, green to yellow, sepals 2.5–3 × 3.5–4 mm, glabrous, with raised nerves, petals 6.5–8 mmlong at the tip, 9.5–10 × 3–3.8 mmat the base, with acute tips, glabrous, nerves indistinct to slightly raised, stamens 5–7.5 mmlong, anthers 4–7 mmlong, filaments 2.5–3 mmlong, pistillode 2 mmlong; basal pistillate flowerspyramidal, ca. 5 mmlong at the apex, 10–13 × 7–11 mmat the base, sepals 10–13 × 7–11 mm, sepals longer than the petals, both distinctly nerved, glabrous, yellow, petals 10–12 × 7–9 mm, glabrous, pistil 8–9 × 5.5–7.5 mm, part of the style, and pistil whitish-tomentose on the lower half, stigmas less than 1.0– 1.5 mmlong, glabrous, staminodal ring ca. 1.5–2.0 mm high, 6-dentate. Fruitovoid-oblong, 4.1–7.0 × 3.4–4.7 cm, yellow to orange when mature, glabrous, epicarp less than 0.5 mmthick, mesocarp 4–7 mmthick, succulent and fibrous; endocarpca. 4–6 × 3–4 cm, 2–4 mmthick on the sides, 5–7 mmthick on the ends, bony; seedglobose or ovoid, ca. 3 × 2.5 cm, with ruminate endosperm. Germination remote-ligular.  22• Phytotaxa294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press NOBLICK A REVISION OF THE GENUS  SYAGRUS   FIGURE 5.  Syagrus amara. A. Species in habitat on Dominica. B. MBC garden specimen from Guadeloupe showing swollen stem base. C. Infructescences from St. Lucia. D. Canopy with immature infructescence and inflorescence. E. Closer shot of inflorescence. F. Close-up of open staminate flowers with larger unreceptive pistillate flowers. G. Infructescence with mature yellowish-orange fruit. H. Mature fruit. I. Fruit showing ruminate endosperm and internal cavity, grid = 1 cm.  Phytotaxa294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 23  Common name:—ti koko, petit coco, gloughlou ( St. Lucia& Martinique), palmiste, palmier amer, petit coco ( Martinique), mocho, moca palm, go go palm ( Montserrat), coconier, coco cain, coco main, coco nain, yattahu, yattahou ( Dominica), palmier amer, palmier rouman au matouba, petit cocos des bois ( Guadeloupe), overtop palm.   Etymology:—The specific epithet,  amara,means bitter, and refers to the bitter-tasting endosperm.   Distribution and habitat:—This species grows on only five islands in the Lesser Antilles: St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, and Montserrat. The species is known from three populations on St. Luciaon the Caribbean and Atlantic coast. It is most common on St. Lucia’s western, Caribbean side, with only two smaller populations on the Atlantic side. In Martinique, it was collected from the northern portion near Grand Rivière, from the southwestern Caribbean side near Trois Ilets, and several smaller localities located mostly on the southern portion of the island. In Dominica, it was mostly collected along the northwestern portion of the island. On Guadeloupeit has been collected near St. Rose and Basse Terre on the western Caribbean side of the island. Finally, it can be found in at least three populations on Montserrat: Upper Blakes, Locust Valley, and Waterworks Estates. It grows in seasonally dry or secondary forests on steep slopes in rocky, clay or older decomposed volcanic soils or along the margins of rocky streams, from 9 mto 363 melevation.  Conservation:—Because of its habitat, which is steep, and often rocky, there is not much pressure on it from agricultural concerns. Near the coast there may be some competition for building sites, but many of these sites would be difficult to build on. None of the areas of occupancy that the author visited were particularly large with the exception of those on Dominica. Several populations occur in remote or protected areas and some within volcanically active exclusion zones (Monserrat). While some populations my go extinct that are outside of these zones, the author does not see any threat of the species going extinct on any of these islands in the foreseeable future. Live specimens from four of the five islands are growing at Montgomery Botanical Center. It is classified as least concern, LC.  Phenology:—Flowering in the wild in March to July with some plants having fruit from May to August or September.  Uses:—This palm has ornamental potential. According to Hodge (1957), the immature seeds contain a bitter “milk” and fermented drinks were made from the fruit and sap.  Notes:—This is a medium to large palm with a noticeably swollen base. It is the only native  Syagrusin the Caribbean. The large (to 7 cmlong) yellow to orange fruit with white tomentum covered apex, thick endocarp (to 5–7 mm), and ruminate endosperm make it easy to identify.  Representative specimens:—  DOMINICA:  St. John Parish: Ti Baie; Morne Plaissance Road/ Ti Baie Closest TownPortsmith,  165 m, 15.54, –61.46.  13 July 2012,  L.R. Noblick& A. James5619( FTG!);   St. Peter Parish: Near Mount Espagnol. Espagnol; Closest Townis Dublanc,  200 m, 15.53, –61.46,  13 July 2012,  L.R. Noblick& A. James5618 ( FTG!);  St. Peter Parish: Syndicate Road,  297 m, 15.53, –61.46,  14 July 2012,  L.R. Noblick& A. James5620( FTG!); GUADELOUPE.  St. Rose:[16.33, –61.99],  25 March 1931, A. Questel613(P!); MARTINIQUE. Grand Rivière: on the northern side of the island and E of the town, on the slopes and top of Cap. St. Martin, just W of the Rivière Trois Bras,  9 m, 14.86, –61.20,  23 August 2009. L.R. Noblicket al. 5546( FTG!);  Le Marin, Property of Hubert Inimod, NW of the town facing towards the town of Le Marin,  239 m, 14.48, –60.89,  24 August 2009.  L.R. Noblicket al. 5548( FTG!);  Petit Bourg, ca 2.5 kmSE of the town on the Petit Bourg/ Regaleroad (N8), 14.53, –60.94,  158 m,  24 August 2009,  L.R. Noblick& A. Peter5549( FTG!);  Diamant, vaillon entre Morne Gardier et Morne du Riz,  10 m,  6 September 1988,  C. Sastre8591(P!); MONTSERRAT. Blakes Estate: Upper Blakes Estatenear the water tower. ca   338 m.16.77, –62.19,  14 July 2010,  L.R. Noblicket al. 5560( FTG!);  Centre Hills; Centre Hills; Biodiversity Assessment Point  136, 306 m, 16.75, –62.20,  17 November 2005,  M.A. Hamiltonet al. 323(K!); North Centre Hills, 16.75, –62.19,  13 November 1944,  J.S. Beard434(K!); 1882,  A. Duss18( US); 1897,  A. Duss3817( US);  8 May 1891,  J.S. Hollingss.n.(K!);  ST. LUCIA. Anse La Chaloupe:  322 ft, 13.99, –60.89,  18 May 2002, B.F. Gunn20, 21( MO!);  Anse La Raye, Just N of Roseaualong the Caribbeanside of the island,  92 m, 13.96, –61.04,  19 August 2009,  L.R. Noblicket al. 5540( FTG!);  Dennery, Closest townof Dennery, ca. 2.5 kmS of the city along the Atlanticside of the island,  73 m, 13.90, –60.89,  20 August 2009.  L.R. Noblick& V.C. Sealy5541( FTG!);  Mandele,  200 mfrom Correctional Servicestowards Dennery,  22 May 2002,  B.F. Gunn54( MO!);  Masquet, 13.96, –61.04,  16 May 2002,  B.F. Gunn16, 17( MO!);  Rosseau, Masquet,  294 ft, 13.96, –61.04,  16 May 2002,  B.F. Gunn& M. Smith12( MO!).  24• Phytotaxa294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press NOBLICK 2012-07-13 FTG L. R. Noblick & A. James Dominica St. John Parish 165 Morne Plaissance Road Ti Baie 23 1 2012-07-13 FTG L. R. Noblick & A. James Dominica St. Peter Parish 200 Closest Town Mount Espagnol. Espagnol 23 1 2012-07-14 FTG L. R. Noblick & A. James Dominica 297 Syndicate Road St. Peter Parish 23 1 1931-03-25 2009-08-23 1931-03-25 FTG Questel & Grand Riviere & Cap. St. Martin & Noblick Dominica 9 Riviere Trois Bras St. Rose 23 1 2009-08-24 FTG Le Marin & L. R. Noblick Dominica 239 Le Marin Property of Hubert Inimod 23 1 2009-08-24 FTG L. R. Noblick & A. Peter Dominica Petit Bourg 158 Regale Petit Bourg 23 1 1988-09-06 2010-07-14 1988-09-06 FTG C. Sastre & Blakes Estate & L. R. Noblick Dominica 10 Upper Blakes Estate Diamant 23 338 1891-05-08 2005-11-17 1891-05-08 M. A. Hamilton & J. S. Beard & A. Duss & J. S. Hollings United States of America Centre Hills 136306 Biodiversity Assessment Point Centre Hills 23 1 2002-05-18 MO Gunn Saint Lucia 98 Anse La Chaloupe 23 1 2009-08-19 FTG L. R. Noblick Saint Lucia 92 Caribbean Just 23 1 Anse-la-Raye 2009-08-20 FTG L. R. Noblick & V. C. Sealy Saint Lucia 73 Atlantic Closest town 23 1 Dennery 2002-05-22 MO B. F. Gunn Saint Lucia 200 Correctional Services Mandele 23 1 Dennery [399,1128,1879,1904] 2002-05-16 MO B. F. Gunn Saint Lucia Masquet 23 1 Dennery 2002-05-16 MO B. F. Gunn & M. Smith Saint Lucia 90 Masquet Rosseau 23 1 Dennery