Syagrus vagans (Bondar) Hawkes (1952a: 178)

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

61. Syagrus vagans (Bondar) Hawkes (1952a: 178) . Cocos vagans Bondar (1942a: 457) . Lectotype (designated by Glassman [1972b: 95]):— BRAZIL. Bahia: 1941, G. Bondar s.n. (lectotype F! [F-619777])

Figure 83 plate, Figure 77 map.

Small, clustered or solitary, unarmed, palms 1.2–2.2 m tall. Stem subterranean, growing horizontally, appearing acaulescent, usually 15–30 × 10–15 cm below the ground, and strongly rooted along its length, with persistent leaf bases. Leaves 6–30 in the crown, spirally arranged and spreading to stiffly ascending up to 3 m high; sheathing leaf base 30–32 cm long, often persistent on the underground stem, sheath with very narrow, stiff, flattened fibers along the margins; pseudopetiole 30–140 cm long, basal portion with short, narrow, fine, serrate projections along the margin, petiole 2–45 cm long; rachis 44–186 cm long; leaflets dark green to yellow green leaflets with waxy coating above, whitish beneath, usually at an acute angle with the rachis, 17–38 along one side, regularly distributed in one plane or rarely clustered 2–3; ramenta scales or tomentum present or absent where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis or along the abaxial midvein; basal leaflets 16–23 × 0.2–1.6 cm, middle leaflets 18–54 × 1.8– 3.5 cm, apical leaflets 29–37 × 0.7–1.6 cm, mostly with acute to asymmetric tips. Inflorescence erect, spirally branched; prophyll 21–34 × 2.5–4 cm; peduncular bract ca. 80–150(–180) cm long, expanded portion 31–98(–106) × 2.5–7(–8) cm, bearing a 2–3 cm beak, woody, sulcate; peduncle ca. 38–110 × 5–11 mm; inflorescence axis 18–65 cm long; rachis 12–37 cm long; rachillae (5–)15–35(–46), 5–49 cm long at the base, 3–22 cm long at the apex, rachillae bracts absent or up to 2 mm long; staminate flowers 2–5 mm long at the apex, 5–7 × 2–4(–5.5) mm at the base, pale yellow, sepals 1–1.5 × (<1–) 1.7–2 mm, glabrous, no visible veins, petals 2–4 mm long at the tip, 4–6(– 7) × 1.5–3 mm at the base of the rachillae, with acute tips, glabrous, nerves none to indistinct, stamens 2.3–4 mm long, anthers 1.5–3 mm long, filaments 1.5–3 mm long, pistillode 1.5 mm long; pistillate flowers somewhat rounded or conical, 5–7 × 5–6(–7) mm, sepals 5–7 × 4–6 mm, yellow, glabrous, distinctly veined, not keeled, petals

A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYAGRUS

Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 209 4–5 × 3–5.5 mm, glabrous, distinctly veined except at the tip, valvate tips 1/5–1/2 the length of the petal, ca. 1–2.5 mm long, pistil 4 × 3–4.5 mm with white tomentum, stigmas 1 mm long, staminodal ring ca. 1 mm high. Fruit narrowly ellipsoid, 2.8–3.7 × 1.5–1.8 cm, persistent perianth (cupule) light brown, 12–14 mm wide, 4–5 mm deep, ring 3 mm in height, epicarp less than 0.5 mm thick, smooth green with scattered fine white tomentum, yellowish green when mature, mesocarp 1–2 mm thick, fibrous; endocarp 3.1–3.5 × 1.8–2.1 cm, bony, light to dark brown, trivittate on interior, 1–2 mm thick on the sides, 3–5 mm thick at the ends, with no clusters of fibers; seeds 1.9–2.6 × 0.8–1.1 cm, endosperm homogeneous. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— ariri, licuriroba, licurioba, licurioba-das-caatingas, licuriroba-das-caatingas, pindoba.

Etymology:— The specific epithet, vagans , means wandering and refers to the prostrate trunk which tends to push the crown from one location to another as it grows.

Distribution and habitat:— Brazil, eastern Bahia in the dryer caatinga vegetation regions. This species is nearly endemic to the state of Bahia, just barely reaching into the state of Minas Gerais in caatinga vegetation above 250 m elevation. In Bahia, its northern limit is around Senhor do Bonfim and Monte Santo. Its western limit is around the Serra do Tombador and the Serra do Sincorá, and the eastern limit is around Castro Alves. Syagrus vagans reaches its southern limit in northern Minas Gerais just north of Pedra Azul along the BR 116 (G. F. Essenfelder Abrahão, pers. comm.). This species grows in a variety of soil types, usually sandy and gravelly in nature, but occasionally lateritic and often in association with Syagrus coronata . It has been observed only once in a transitional zone between campo rupestre and caatinga vegetation at an elevation of 850– 900 m. It is the only acaulescent palm that grows in the arid caatinga, all other palms with short subterranean stems are either restricted to the high elevation campo rupestre or in cerrado vegetation.

Conservation:— This species is widely distributed within the eastern portion of Bahia and slightly into Minas Gerais. It grows in some of the driest regions of the state and in soils that have no agricultural value. It produces an abundance of seeds, which germinate well. It is not threatened and is classified as least concern, LC.

Phenology:— This species flowers December–May and fruits April–August.

Uses:— The mesocarp of the fruit is edible, and the nut is rich in oil. In nature the fruits and seeds are eaten by insects or consumed by wild animals. Leaves and inflorescences are used as forage for livestock. Seeds are oily and are used to fatten pigs and chickens. Oil is extracted from the seed. Part of the leaves are used to make hats and to cover rustic dwellings ( Bondar, 1939d). The palm possesses ornamental attributes and is recommended for landscaping.

Notes:— This is a drought-resistant, prostrate palm with stiff erect leaves possessing narrow tooth-like flattened fibers on the lower part of its sheath and pseudopetiole, and narrow ellipsoid fruits that remain green even at maturity.

Because it is restrictive in its habitat, it is easy to identify in the field. The dark green stiffly erect to somewhat spreading leaves are very characteristic. The inflorescence often will stick above the leaves of some of the smaller individuals. This species has very long narrow rachillae, up to 65 cm in some cases, and has 15–35(–46) rachillae, which tend to always be upwardly oriented. Its fruits are narrow and long, up to 3.7 cm, which is longer than the fruits of other acaulescent species.

There is some suspicion that the specimens growing in the Morro do Chapéu region are different than those growing at lower elevations, but the author could not find any significant differences in their anatomy. However, there are no ramenta scales or tomentum present, and none where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis or along the abaxial midvein in the northern Morro do Chapéu, Bahia population, but there are ramenta scales present along the abaxial midvein in the southern Brumado , Bahia population .

Representative specimens:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Argom , without date, E.R. Salviani & H. Lorenzi 187 ( HPL!) ; Brumado , 22 km E of Brumado, caatinga, ca. 50 clumps seen, 5 July 1969, S.F. Glassman & J.T. Medeiros-Costa 8725, 8726 (F!, FTG!) ; Conceição de Coite, Serra do Mucambo , topo da serra, –11.50, –39.18, 24 April 2013, D.N. Carvalho 203 ( HUEFS!) ; Contendas do Sincorá, Sudoeste , –13.85, –40.83, 19 October 1997, M.L. Guedes 6878 ( ALCB!) ; Iaçú, 20 km N of Lagedo Alto, 29 June 1969, S.F. Glassman & J.T. Medeiros-Costa 8709 (F!); Iaçú, 5– 10 km W of Lagedo Alto, 29 June 1969, S.F. Glassman & J.T. Medeiros-Costa 8710–8713 (F!); Iaçú , 40 km leste da cidade na BA 046, –12.75, –40.18, 22 April 1984, L.R. Noblick et al. 3161 ( HUEFS!) ; Iaçú, Fazenda Suibra ( Boa Sorte ), 18 km leste da cidade, –12.72, –40.12, seguindo a ferrovia, 13 March 1985, L.R. Noblick 3609 ( HUEFS!) ; Itaberaba, BR-242, a 30 km de Argoim na direção de Itaberaba , 16 April 1991, R.P. de Lyra Lemos & Esteves 1822 ( MAC!) ; Itaberaba, Morro Itibiraba , 270 m, –12.50, –40.08, without date, A.O.Moraes 72 ( HUEFS) ;

210 • Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press

NOBLICK A REVISION OF THE GENUS SYAGRUS

Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 211 Itaberaba, 480 m, –12.48, –40.47, 20 November 1986, L.P. Queiroz de 1331 ( HUEFS) ; Itatim , Morro do Agenor, 280–410 m, –12.70, –39.77, 26 November 1995, F. França 1488 ( HUEFS) ; Itatim , Morro do Tocas, 310–430 m, – 12.72, –39.70, 29 September 1996, F. França 1501 ( HUEFS) ; Itatim , –12.70, –39.68, 29 September 1996, V. de Monterro & C.M.L. Aguiar s.n. ( HUEFS!) ; Itaeté , Itaeté / Marcionilio Souza, –13.05, –40.87, SD 24-VC, 19 October 1978, A.P. de Araujo 96 ( HRB!, RB!) ; Itiúba , Povoado de Picos, serra entre o povoado e a Fazenda Lage da Cruz, 485 m, 5 April 2012, D. Fernandes 4 ( HVASF) ; Itiúba , Povoado de Picos, Serra de Picos , 514 m, 5 April 2012, R.R.V. Gonçalves 6 ( HVASF) ; Jequié , Rodovia Rio–Bahia BR-4, 30 km N of Jequié, para Milagres, 22 January 1965, R.P. Belém & J.M. Mendes 242 ( BH!, UB!) ; Jequié , –13.86, –40.08, 20 November 2000, E.R. Salviani & H. Lorenzi 1849 ( HPL!) ; Gonçalo , Piemonte da Diamantina, –11.13, –40.17, 5 August 2001, M.L. Guedes 9081 ( ALCB) ; Maracás , 20 km N of Maracás, Morros, in caatinga, very local or sparse, 1 July 1969, S.F. Glassman & J.T. Medeiros-Costa 8717–8719 (F!) ; Maracas , 29 km ao S de Maracás, pela antiga rod. para Jequié, 700 m, Folha SD 24 (14-40a), 27 April 1978, S.A. Mori et al. 10065 ( CEPEC!) , 10066 (CEPEC!, NY!); Maracás , – 13.44, –40.43, 29 June 1993, L.P. de Queiroz 3272 ( HUEFS) ; Marcionílio Souza , Vicinity of Machado Portello, – 13.00, –40.53, 19 June 1915, J.N. Rose & Russell 19900 ( NY!, US!) ; Miguel Calmon , 10 km N da cidade, estrada para Brejo Grande, Fazenda Licuri, –11.43, –40.60, 15 June 1985, L.R. Noblick 3846 (F!, HUEFS!) ; Milagres , December 2009, A.F. Brito 35 ( HUEFS) ; Milagres , entroncamento Milagres e Amargosa, 10 km, March 1972, A.L. Costa s.n. ( ALCB-410 !) ; Milagres , Rodovia BR-116 Rio / Bahia, prox. a Milagres, 11 January 1983 L.A. Mattos Silva et al. s.n. ( CEPEC!) ; Fazenda Bom Jesus , 7 December 1970, A.L. Costa s.n. ( ALCB-411 !) ; Morro do Chapéu , 48 km da estrada de Riacho das Lages / Morro do Chapéu, BA-426, –11.55, –41.16, 3 April 1986, A.M. de Carvalho et al. 2409 ( CEPEC!) ; Morro do Chapéu , –11.55, –41.16, 19 October 2009, L.H.P. Kiill & L.S. D. de Cunha 3820 ( HTSA) ; Morro do Chapéu , 18 km norte do Morro do Chapéu, –11.98, –41.29, 3 November 1985, J.L. de S. Lima & L.R. Noblick 140–147 ( HTSA!) ; Morro do Chapéu , 11 km norte na estrada para Jacobina, Fazenda Homoriô , –11.55, – 41.15, November 1984, L.R. Noblick & Clodoaldo 3537 ( HUEFS!) ; Morro do Chapéu , ca. 20 km N of the city on BR-426 (Morro do Chapéu / Jacobina), –11.55, –41.16, February 1992, L.R. Noblick 4834 ( FTG!, K!, NY!) ; Poções , Col. along the main highway near Poções , and common from Plan Alto [Planalto] to Jequié, ca. 700 m, 17 January 1975, R. Read & Daniels 3437 ( US!) ; Queimadas , –10.97, –39.60, 16 November 1986, L.P. de Queiroz 1141 ( HUEFS!) ; Rio Branco , 15 May 1918, H.M. Curran 300 ( NY!) ; Santa Inês , Sudoeste, –13.28, –39.82, 21 January 1995, A.J. Ribeiro s.n. ( ALCB!) ; Santa Teresinha , 25 March 1931, G. Bondar 1559 ( SP!) ; Santa Teresinha , 1941, G. Bondar s.n. (F-619778!, 620715!, 620752!); Riacho Grande, 4–5 km nordeste de Itatim, –12.75, –39.53, 16 May 1984, L.R. Noblick et al. 3253 ( HUEFS!) ; Santa Terezinha, BA 016, para Amargosa , ca. 4 km SE do entroncamento com a BR 116, –12.85, –39.77, 2 June 1993, L.P. de Queiroz 3199 ( HUEFS!) ; Sento Sé , Serra do Curral Feio, 2 km de Almas, –10.50, –41.58, 7 October 1988, J.L. de S. Lima 90a ( HTSA!) ; Tartaruga , 18 July 1979, G. Hatschbach 42466 ( MBM!) ; Vitoria da Conquista , Along the main highway near pocoes, 700 m, 17 January 1975, ( US) ; Vitoria da Conquista , Perto de Cândido Sales, Nova Conquista, –15.50, –41.25, August 1989, G.F.E. Abrahão ( MBML!) ; Minas Gerais : Salto da Divisa, –16.00, –39.95, 18 July 1988, G. Hatschbach 50220 ( MBM!) .

Figures

FIGURE 77. Distribution maps of Syagrus sancona, S. santosii, S. schizophylla, S. smithii, S. stenopetala, S. stratincola and S. vagans.

FIGURE 83. Syagrus vagans. A. Palm with typical inflorescence. B. Palm with guide holding an infructescence. C. Infructescence with narrow ellipsoid fruit. D. Palm at Jardim Botânico Palmarum (JBP) from Jequié, Bahia. E. Infructescence. F. Specimen from Jequié, Bahia. G. Specimen from Morro do Chapéu, Bahia, note how it looks a bit different in habit from D or F. H. JBP specimen from Brumado, Bahia.