(Last Modified On 10/24/2012)
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(Last Modified On 10/24/2012)
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Genus
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BACTRIS Jacq.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Select. Stirp. Amer. Hist. 1:279. 1763.
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Synonym
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Augustinea Karst. in Linnaea 28:395. 1856. Pyrenoglyphis Karst. Fl. Columb. 2:141. 1866.
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Description
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Small bushy erect or sometimes semi-procumbent monoecious palms,' in some cases more or less tree-like, most of them very spiniferous, commonly soboliferous from short rootstocks, spadices interfoliar, spines usually borne on all parts ex- cept perhaps on flowers and fruits: spadices short and covered in two spiniferous cymbas one of which is persistent: -leaves pinnate or pinnatisect or pinnately lobed, the parts standing in one plane: spadix a single unbranched- compact spike like an aroid within its spathe or in other cases with short simple spreading branches bearing pistillate flowers on lower part and staminates -on the upper part although typically with a pistillate between 2 staminates, not sunken in the rachis, floral parts a calyx of 3 sepals or lobes, petals same; staminate flowers with urceolate or cup-like calyx that enlarges in fruit, petals or corolla-lobes much larger, valvate, stamens 6-12, pistillode very small or absent, the full staminate bud often angular from compression; pistillate flowers usually smaller, ovary 3- loculed, stigmas 3 and mostly conspicuous at moment of anthesis: fruit drupa- ceous, small, globular or oblate or pyriform or turbinate, mostly less than 5 cm. long, 1-seeded, mesocarp more or less succulent even though thin and usually of little substance, mealy or fibrous when dry, exterior cream-white or yellowish, orange or reddish or purplish and sometimes aculeate or setose but the armature commonly soon vanishing; floral envelopes accrescent and forming a cupule at base of fruit, sometimes the lobes in each series separate and in other cases the series constituting a double crenate cup; nutlet with 3 prominent pores one of which is functional; albumen hard and homogeneous; raphe represented usually in reticulations.
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Distribution
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Tropical western hemisphere, from Cuba and Mexico to South America, nearly 200 species recognized, in many habitats.
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Note
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Accounted a difficult genus in identifi- cation but not inexplicable when proper specimens are available. Related genus is Guilielma which is native in Costa Rica and the same or a similar species in Colombia and southward, but not reported as a native palm in Panama although frequently planted. The genus is included in Bactris by many authors but the habit of the plant and general features are so unlike that the two may well be held apart. Guilielma is distinc.tly tree-like even though somewhat soboliferous, pinnae linear and acuminate and commonly standing in more than one plane on the rachis, fruit a large highly colored fleshy edible drupe known as Pejibaye, Clonta, Gachipaes, Peach Palm and by other names. The plant in Costa Rica is known as G. utilis Oerst. and in Colombia and Brazil as G. Gasipaes (HUK.) Bailey (B. speciosa Mart.)
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Key
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a. Leaves simple, consisting of a pinnately veined blade deeply bilobed at apex: plant soon becoming nude from the weathering away of the few weak spines - - -1. B. PAULA aa. Leaves pinnate, with distinct and separate leaflets or pinnae either side the rachis: plant permanently spiniferous. b. Foliage conspicuously yellow-pilose on both surfaces and rachis - 2. B. ALLENIANA bb. Foliage glabrous, or sometimes inconspicuously puberulent (under a lens) on one surface or the other. c. Species with bright green glossy leaves not rigidly and closely costate (main secondary veins 8-10 mm. apart), sides curving and not parallel for any distance, apex prominently acuminate and often caudate, margins nude or not conspicuously setulose. d. Petiole devoid of spines except at base, as also the rachis. e. Pinnae 30 cm. and more long; fruit black; cupule crenate. 3. B. COLONIATA ee. Pinnae less than 20 cm. long, very glossy: fruit orange; cupule without crenate border - -- 4. B. AUREODRUPA dd. Petiole- spine-bearing throughout its length; rachis also some- times spiniferous. e. Pinnae short-caudate or only acuminate, marked on upper surface with cross-lines between the nerves: cupule of an outer series (calyx) of 3 deep lobes and an inner series (corolla) with nearly entire margin and setose --- 5. B. FUSCOSPINA ee. Pinnae long-caudate and no elevated cross-lines: cupule di- vided into deep lobes in both series - -- 6. B. DIVISICUPULA cc. Species with gray-green mostly not glossy foliage; pinnae strongly marked with close usually parallel nerves (close and thin in B. oraria, not deeply parallel in B. superior), margins manifestly setulose. d. Upper surface of pinnae conspicuously marked with elevated cross-lines between the main nerves (tessellate or reticulate). e. Petiole spine-bearing only at or near base, some of the spines 15 cm. long: fruit dark green becoming orange-red, hairy; cupule shallow and flat _ - _ ---7. B. BARRONIS ee. Petiole armed throughout, the spines 5 cm. or less long: fruit deep orange, smooth; cupule shallow, lightly crenate _ 8. B. COLORADONIS dd. Upper surface of pinnae lacking manifest elevated cross-lines: outer ring of cupule flat, scarcely cupulate. e. Pinnae short and narrow, mostly 20 cm. (sometimes 30 cm.) and less long, often less than 1 cm. broad, parallel veins all thin, sides parallel: plant often procumbent or clambering: shores (orarian) - 9. B. ORARIA ee. Pinnae much larger, the rib and side-veins making ridges lengthwise: plant erect: mostly inland. f. Shape of pinnae broad in middle (about 4 cm.) and nar- rowed either way; rachis sparsely tomentose to glabrescent: fruit 4-5 cm. long, apex conic -_ - - 10. B. SUPERIOR ff. Shape of pinnae about the same width throughout their length (except of course at ends), 2-3 cm. or less broad; rachis of leaf rusty-tomentose. g. Attachment of pinnae 3-5 cm. apart, giving the leaf an open look: fruit oblong or acorn-like, 4 cm. long, with somewhat parallel sides --- --11. B. BALANOIDEA gg. Attachment of pinnae close together, giving the leaf a crowded and continuous look. h. Petiole devoid of hispid hairs; apex of pinnae not long and narrowly acuminate: fruit globular-oblong, about 4 cm. long, with curving sides, not becoming peaked in drying 12. B. AUGUSTINEA hh. Petiole beset with hispid hairs among the spines: pin- nae slenderly acuminate: fruit ellipsoid or elliptic- ovoid, 4-5 cm long, peaked when dry_ 13. B. MAJOR
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