Syagrus oleracea (Mart.) Beccari (1916: 467)

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

Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 151 42. Syagrus oleracea (Mart.) Beccari (1916: 467) . Cocos oleracea Martius (1826: 117) . Calappa oleracea (Mart.) Kuntze (1891: 982) . Lectotype (designated by Dahlgren 1959, plates 393 and 394):— BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: Rio S. Francisco, Martius 1595 (holotype M! [F neg. 18566, 18566a])

Cocos oleracea var. platyphylla Drude in Martius (1881: 417). Syagrus oleracea var. platyphylla (Drude) Beccari (1916: 467) . Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: cult. Horto Publico, Rio de Janeiro, A.F.M. Glaziou 8063 (holotype C!, isotype GH).

Syagrus gomesii Glassman (1968c: 22) . Type :— BRAZIL. São Paulo : 3 km N of Pompeia, 4 July 1965, S.F. Glassman & J.C. Gomes 8005 (holotype, F!).

Figure 59 plate, Figure 60 map.

Moderate, solitary, unarmed, palms. Stem (3–)5–15(–20) m × 14–30 cm, erect, columnar, gray, with leaf scar intervals often indistinct. Leaves 12–21 in crown, spirally arranged, spreading; sheathing leaf base 45–130 cm long, fibrous; pseudopetiole 80–158 cm long with fibrous margins; petiole (4–)12–16 × 3.0– 4.5 cm, 1.0– 1.5 cm thick; rachis (82–) 185–380 cm long; leaflets glaucous green on the adaxial surface, dull green on the abaxial surface, (61–)96–161 along one side, irregularly distributed in clusters of 2–5 in divergent planes; ramenta scales or tomentum present where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis and sometimes along the abaxial midvein; basal leaflets 52–91 × 0.5–1.5 cm, middle leaflets (31–)50–100 × (1.3–)2.5–4.5(–5) cm, apical leaflets 19–56 × 0.6–1.3 cm, mostly with acuminate to asymmetric tips. Inflorescence erect to pendulous, spirally branched; prophyll 43–62 × 4.5–8.5 cm; peduncular bract ca. (55–) 84–172 cm long, expanded portion 53–108 × (5–) 12–29 cm, bearing a 4– 9(–11.5) cm beak, 3–4 mm thick, woody, mostly glabrous except for occasional indument at the tip, deeply sulcate, tan to light brown color; peduncle ca. 16–64 × 1.5–2.7 cm, glaucous; inflorescence axis 49–105 cm; rachis 40–93 cm long, waxy; rachillae (20–)40–87, (7–) 24–55 cm long at the base, 13–19 cm long at the apex, glabrous to glaucous, rachillae bracts inconspicuous; staminate flowers (8–) 10–14 cm long at the apex, 15–22 × 4–7 mm at the base, yellowish, the basal ones sometimes pedicellate, sepals 1–5 × (1–) 2–5 mm glabrous, petals 8–14 mm long at the apex, 13–22 × 2.5–6 mm at the base with acuminate tips, glabrous, nerves not visible, stamens 7–9.5 mm long, anthers (4–) 6–9 mm long, filaments 1.5–3.0 mm long, pistillode (<1–)ca. 2 mm long; pistillate flowers pyramidal, 13–27 × (5–) 8–14 mm, sepals (7–)12–27 × 7–13(–17) mm, glabrous, green to yellowish, obscurely nerved, strongly keeled, petals (3–)12–18(–22) × 4–10(–15) mm, glabrous, obscurely nerved, valvate tips more than ½ to 3/5 the length of the petal, ca. 9 mm long, pistil 6.5–12(–16) × 2.5–5 mm, glabrous to short hairy at the base, stigmas 4–7 mm long, staminodal ring ca. (0.8–) 1–2 mm high. Fruit (2.3–)4–7 × 2.4–3.5 cm, light greenish to yellow-green when mature, persistent perianth (cupule) green to tan, smooth or slightly nerved, 2–2.5 cm wide, 1– 1.5 cm deep, ring 2–3 mm in height, smooth or faintly fibrous, epicarp less than 0.5 mm thick, mesocarp 1–3 mm thick, succulent and fibrous, mucilaginous; endocarp (3.7–)4.5–6.0 × 2.1–2.6 cm, bony to hard woody, fibrous, does not appear to be trivittate, 4–8 mm thick on the sides and 7–13 mm thick at the ends, with no clusters of fibers; seeds ellipsoid, 1.5–2.5 × 1.0– 1.5 cm, endosperm homogeneous. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— catolé, côco-catolé, côco-babão, coqueiro-guariroba, guariroba, gueriroba, gariroba, pati, pati-amargosa, coqueiro-amargoso, guahiro.

Etymology:— The specific epithet, oleracea , means pertaining to kitchen gardens, either as a pot-herb or vegetable. This epithet surely must refer to the edible heart (palmito) used in cooking ( Bondar, 1964). Martius (1826) specifically mentioned that the palmito was edible (after boiling).

Distribution and habitat:— Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil in semideciduous forests and cerrados. In Brazil, it is found from Bahia to Paraná: Bahia, Tocantins, Goiás, Minas Gerais, São Paulo , Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Paraná and west into Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso. In Bahia, it is found west of the Rio São Francisco. This palm grows in good soils, including fine sandy soils. It tends to grow in the seasonal semideciduous forests that act as a transitional zone between the arid caatinga environment and the more mesic cerrado in western Bahia. It does not seem to be as tolerant of arid conditions as S. coronata . It has been recorded for Bolivia (Moraes- Ramirez 2004; Moreno & Moreno 2006), but the author has concerns about Bolivia (see notes).

Conservation:— This palm species is widely distributed throughout the central and southern part of Brazil, reaching into Bolivia and Paraguay as well. It can be found within the borders of several national parks and reserves and therefore is under no threat. Outside of the park, it is widely cultivated. It is under no threat and is classified as least concern, LC.

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Phenology:— This palm appears to flower and fruit year around. It probably has a peak of flowering and fruiting in the summer (December to February). It fruits abundantly during the spring. Seeds germinate in 2–3 months.

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Uses:— This species is commonly planted as an ornamental and cultivated as a street tree, especially in western Bahia (Barreiras, Coribe, and Santana), and in Goiania, Goiás. Leaves are used to cover rustic shelters. The fleshy mesocarp is edible and occasionally used to feed cattle. An edible oil can be extracted from the seeds ( Bondar, 1964, Medeiros-Costa, 1982). The palm heart is used in cooking in Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Goiás ( Bondar, 1964). Although the heart of palm is bitter, it is still considered a delicacy on the regional menus of some states and is cultivated commercially. The mesocarp and the seed along with its extracted oil are edible. The palmito must be boiled sufficiently in several waters. and even so the bitterness is still strong. One local aficionado confirmed that, yes, it does have a bitter taste, but it is very good, an opinion that the author does not share.

Notes:— This species is similar to S. romanzoffiana , but leaflets are not pendulous, inflorescence is shorter, fruits are much larger, female flowers are large and pyramidal, and endocarp is smooth on the inside. Syagrus oleracea is a very variable species with a wide distribution. In the eastern part of its distribution in Bahia (near Wanderley), the trees have some characters that were reminiscent of S. coronata , like wider leaf sheath fibers, and a tendency for the leaves to be both spiraled and occasionally arranged in apparent rows; however, the fruits are unmistakably S. oleracea . Perhaps with further collections and work, the hybrid between these two may be encountered but not as it was originally thought to have occurred in Pernambuco, when Glassman (1970c) confused the hybrid of S. coronata × S. cearensis for the hybrid between S. coronata × S. oleracea and called it S. × costae . The real hybrid between S. coronata × S. oleracea will have to be given a different name. Although the populations are separated by a good distance in Bahia, insects can fly great distances. Moreover, the wind blows from east to west in this region, and pollen-bearing insects could be transported into this area during a strong westmoving storm. Initially notes recorded for western Bahia contained references to populations of S. coronata , but it seems clear now that S. coronata is found only east of the Rio São Francisco , and S. oleracea is found on the western side.

Syagrus oleracea differs from S. coronata in having larger fruits which are more oblong in shape, spiraled arrangement of leaves on the trunk instead of being arranged in five rows, and leaf sheaths with fibrous margins instead of the flat woody, spine-like fibers of S. coronata . It also has longer internodes.

Glassman (1987) himself reduced his species S. gomesii to synonymy under S. oleracea , when he realized that the species with which he honored his deceased collecting companion ( Glassman 1967b) was only a senescent form of S. oleracea with taller older stems and shorter leaves.

Syagrus picrophylla is no longer considered a synonym of S. oleracea (cf. Glassman, 1987). Syagrus picrophylla grows only on the granitic outcrops near Rio de Janeiro or southern Espirito Santo and is distinct both morphologically and in its habitat preferences (see notes under S. picrophylla ).

There is a palm growing in the Botanical Garden in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, labeled Syagrus oleracea that may be an undescribed species. Its infructescences continue to mature on the trunk after the subtending leaves are shed (like S. vermicularis ). This is unknown in other specimens of S. oleracea . The image of this palm in Moreno & Moreno (2006) shows a palm with more erect leaves than is typical for S. oleracea . It needs further study. The author suspects that S. oleracea may not occur in Bolivia as reported by Moreno & Moreno (2006) and by Moraes (2004). All three of the specimens reported by Moraes (2004) have been assigned to other Syagrus species ( S. petraea and S. sancona ).

Representative specimens:— BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz: L.R. Moreno 138, 298 (JBSC); I.G. Vargas et al. 1543, 2798 (USZ); BRAZIL. Bahia: 1941, Bondar s.n. (F-620824!); Baianópolis, Ilha a 12 km de Inhumas, próximo ao Rio Angico, –12.56, –44.95, 15 October 1988, J.L. de S. Lima 106a (HTSA); Baianópolis, Rio Angico at a place called "Ilha" on the road to Inhumas, 710 m, –12.30, –44.53, 15 October 1988, L.R. Noblick & J.L. de S. Lima 4627 (BAH!, CEPEC!, F!, HTSA!, K!, UC!); Côcos , ca. de 8 km ao sul da cidade seguindo a estrada Côcos / Montalvânia-MG e entrando a direita ca. 1 km da cidade para o Rio Itaguarí, 500–600 m, –14.18, –44.53, 2 February 1986, L.R. Noblick & J. Lobo 4525 (CEN!, CEPEC!, F!, FTG!, HUEFS!, NY!, RB!, SP!); Correntina, 12 km E of Correntina on BR 349 (Correntina/Santa Maria de Vitoria), 600 m, –13.33, –44.65, 22 October 1988, L.R. Noblick & J.L. de S. Lima 4656 (AAU!, CEPEC!, F!, HTSA!, US!); Cotegipe, Wanderley, 21 km W of Posto Javi (intersection of BR 242 and BA 172), 700–750 m, –10.90, –42.98, 12 October 1988, L.R. Noblick & J.L. de S. Lima 4615 (BAH!, CEPEC!, F!, FTG!, HTSA!); Cristópolis, –12.42, –44.70, 20 March 1985, J.L. de S. Lima 75 (HTSA); Cristópolis, 25 October 1985, J.L. de S. Lima s.n. (HTSA); Santa Maria da Vitória, a 12 km de Correntina, –13.56, –44.89, 22 October 1988, J.L. de S. Lima 131a (HTSA); Santa Maria do Vitória, praça da cidade, March 1986, J.L. de S. Lima s.n. (CEPEC!, HTSA!, F!); Santana, Praça da Bandeira, –13.64, –44.08, 23

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Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 155 October 1988, J.L. de S. Lima, J.L.S. 132a (HTSA!); Santana, Praça de Bandeira in Santana, cultivated palms transplanted from the native forests of the region, 540 m, –13.33, –44.65, 22 October 1988, L.R. Noblick & J.L. de S. Lima 4657 (BH!, CEPEC!, F!, HTSA!, K!, MO!); Distrito Federal: Brasília, BR 060 near "Entrada do Rancho Boa Vista 47", 800–1200 m, –15.48, –47.32, 30 April 1970, R. Goodland 4355 (UB!); Brasília, Granja do Ipê, 1 km próximo da Escola Dona Nenen, 800–1200 m, –15.48, –47.32, 8 July 1970, R. Goodland 4418 (UB!); Brasília, In Brasília, without date, A.F.M. Glaziou 18588 (MO); Brasília, Fazenda Palmas. Próximo ao Rio das Palmas. APA de Cafuringa, –15.78, –47.93, 23 December 1998, R.C. Martins 220 (UB!); Brasília, Estação Ecológica do Jardim Botânico de Brasília T-2, –15.78, –47.93, 10 March 1999, R.C. Martins & F. Paulo 229 (UB!); Brasília, Borda da mata de Galeria, próximo ao Transecto 5, –15.88, –47.84, 10 June 2008, R.C. Martins 933 (HEPH); Brasília, Mata parcialmente destruida, –15.78, –47.93, 10 December 1981, B.A.S. Pereira 134 (UEC!); Goiás: Buriti de Goiás, Rua Buriti, no. 40, Casa da Maria do Perpétuo Socorro, 11 September 2011, J.E. Dias 1 (BOTU); Campinaçu, Vale do rio. Rio Boa Nova. Reservatório em formação, 29 January 1998, H.G.P. Santos & J.B. Pereira 510 (CEN); Campinaçu, Estradas após o córrego Boa Nova, –13.82, –48.42, 440 m, 21 March 1996, B.M.T. Walter et al. 3277 (CEN); Goiânia, Campus of the Universidade Federal de Goiás, School of Agronomy, 700 m, –16.67, –49.27, 13 June 1992, L.R. Noblick 4891 (FTG!, RB!, UFG!); São João Daliança, Margem do rio Roncador, á 2 km de São João D´Alian, 985 m, –14.75, –47.50, 8 March 1988, A.O. Scariot & J.N. da Silveira 22 (CEN); Sitio d'Abadia, Mundo Novo, ca. 57 km NW of Sitio d'Abadia or ca. 17 km SE of Alvorado do Norte, 840 m, –14.81, –46.25, 2 February 1996, L.R. Noblick 5084, 5085 (CEN!, FTG!, NY!); Mato Grosso do Sul: Antônio João, Fazenda Pérola do Vale, –22.19, –55.95, 14 February 2007, K.R. Laitart 22 (CGMS); Bataguassu, Terreno aluvional mais elevado na várzea do rio Paraná, pastagem com algumas árvores remanescentes, –21.71, –52.42, 21 November 1992, I. Cordeiro 1000 (SP!); Bonito, Trilha de acesso a gruta do lago Azul, –21.14, –56.59, 16 December 2000, G.A. Damasceno-Junior 2106 (CGMS); Camapuã, Fazenda do Dário. 40 km após Camapuã, –19.53, –54.04, 31 May 1992, U.M. Resende 722 (CGMS!); Campo Grande, estrada para Rochedo, –20.45, –54.62, 8 June 1981, J.E. de Paula,1440 (UB!); Campo Grande, Apa do Guariroba, 509 m, –20.57, –54.37, 27 November 2012, H.C. Vinci-Carlos 413 (CGMS); Minas Gerais: Monte Belo, Fazenda Lagoa. Instituto Sul Mineiro de Estudo e Preservação da Natureza. Mata de Ferradura. –21.33, –46.37, 15 October 1992, H.Q. Boudet Fernandes 3094 (RB); Sao Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo, Peti-Cemig S. Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo, –19.83, –43.36, 5 January 2005, Dora Jacob (FUNED-POL); Teófilo Otoni, BR-116, km 159, trecho Teófilo Otoni-Itaobim, lado esquerdo da pista, –17.86, – 41.51, 3 January 2009, P. Leitman 73 (RB); Vazante, 650–700 m, –18.02, –43.83, 29 March 1992, L.R. Noblick 4856 (BHCB!, MBM!, NY!); [no locality] 25 March 1877, Simard 9010 ( US); 2 August 1892, Simard 20029 ( US); Paraná: Carlópolis, 2 km norte de Carlópolis. Numa capoeira, –23.43, –49.72, 22 November 1962, J.R. Mattos 10735 (HAS!, SP!); São Paulo : A.F.M. Glaziou 13295 (C, F, FI, K, P); Entre Morro Grande e Leme, without date, M.P. Kuhlmann 50071 (SP!); Amparo, Fazenda N. S. da Encarnação. Monte Alegre, –22.70, –46.76, 5 May 1942, M.P. Kuhlmann 1157 (F!, SP!); Arealva, Fazenda São Joaquim , –22.02, –48.91, 6 February 2007, P.R. Genovez 97 (BOTU); Barretos, Fazenda Nelore, Indo para Olímpia, a 8 km da entrada para Barretos. Pastagem, 600 m, –20.56, –48.57, 22 May 1997, H.Q. Boudet Fernandes 3207 (MBML, SP); Campinas, Distrito de Sousas-Mata Ribeirão Cachoeira (Condomínio Colinas do Atibaia), –22.90, –47.06, 22 September 2000, R. Cielo Filho 244 (UEC); Cardoso, Fazenda Marinheiro, –20.08, –49.91, 20 October 1965, G. de Marinis 371 (HSJRP, UEC); Gália, –22.29, –49.55, June 1999, M.R. Gorenstein 5034 (ESA!); Marília, 18 km E of Marília. Prop. Pedro Felipe, –22.21, –49.94, 4 July 1965, S.F. Glassman 8003, 8004 (F!, SP!); Monteiro Lobato, Ouro Verde, estrada de Panorama ao Rio do Peixe, –22.96, –45.84, 7 September 1995, L.C. Bernacci et al. 2161 (IAC, SP); Pompéia, Hacienda Gueivira. 3 km N of Pompeia. Prop. of Dr. Mario A. Bastos, –22.10, –50.17, 4 July 1965, S.F. Glassman 8006 (SP!); Pontal do Paranapanema, próximo ao Rio Paraná. Ponto 48, –22.25, –52.90, 7 May 1982, L.A. Dambrós 272 (RB!); Reginópolis, Fazenda São João da Boa Vista , –21.88, –49.22, 25 January 2007, P.R. Genovez 95 (BOTU); Rio Claro, Entre Morro Grande e Leme. Beira da estrada, –22.41, –47.56, 19 May 1943, M.P. Kuhlmann 838 (SP!); Rio Claro, Fazenda dos Caeures. 12 km E of Rio Claro, Prop. son of J. Ferguson, –22.41, –47.56, 2 July 1965, S.F. Glassman & J.C. Gomes jr. 8001 (F!, MO, SP!); São Paulo, Tupã, Fazenda Vanuir , part of stand of 1000 trees, – 21.93, –50.51, 5 July 1965, S.F. Glassman 8009 (F!, SP!); São Paulo, Votuporanga, Vizinho da Estação Experimental do IAC, –20.42, –49.97, 29 November 1994, L.C. Bernacci et al. 788 (IAC); PARAGUAY. Montes Limeira, E. Hassler 11233 (G!).

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Figures

FIGURE 59. Syagrus oleracea. A. Population of the palm near Alvorado do Norte, Goiás (Noblick 5084). B. Crown of a specimen at MBC. C. Crowns of palms near Alvorado do Norte, Goiás. D. Apical pistillate flowers (Noblick 4856). E. Basal pistillate flowers (Noblick 4856). F. Infructescence. G. Close of infructescence. H. Close of fruits. Grid is in centimeters.

FIGURE 60. Distribution maps of Syagrus oleracea, S. orinocensis, S. petraea, and S. picrophylla.