Syagrus harleyi Glassman (1978: 401)

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

26. Syagrus harleyi Glassman (1978: 401) . Type:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Serra do Sincorá, by Rio Cumbuca ca. 3 km S of Mucugê, 850 m, 4 February 1974, R.M. Harley, S.A. Renvoize, C.M. Erskine, C.A. Brighton, & R. Pinheiro 15963 (holotype K!, isotypes BH, F!, MO, NY!, U, US!)

Figure 37 plate, Figure 38 map.

Small, usually clustered, sometimes solitary, unarmed palms 80–120 cm tall. Stem subterranean, appearing acaulescent. Leaves (2–) 3–8 in crown, spirally arranged, spreading; sheathing leaf base 25–30 cm long, fibrous; pseudopetiole 50–70 cm long with smooth or fibrous margins; petiole 17–44 × 1.5 cm, 1.0– 1.3 cm thick; rachis 61–178 cm long; leaflets shiny green above, pale green to white waxy beneath (at higher elevations), 14–57 along one side, regularly distributed in one plane; no ramenta scales present where the leaflets are inserted on the rachis, and none along the abaxial midvein, pendulous at lower elevations, but straighter, stiffer and strongly ascending at higher elevations; basal leaflets 17–23 × 0.6–1.0 cm, middle leaflets 26–62 × 1.2–2.4(–2.7) cm, apical leaflets 13– 17 × 0.2–0.5 cm, mostly with acute to asymmetric tips. Inflorescence erect, spirally branched; prophyll 25–40 × 1– 2 cm; peduncular bract ca. 100 cm long, expanded portion 18–68 × (1.5–) 3–7 cm, bearing a 2–3 cm beak, woody, sulcate, more or less glabrous, light orange; peduncle ca. (12–)45–112 × (0.4–) 0.6–1 cm; inflorescence axis 18–40 cm long; rachis 10–39 cm long; rachillae 5–31, 2–15 cm long, each rachilla, especially lower ones, subtended by a bract (0–) 1–4 mm long; staminate flowers 4–5.5 mm long at the apex, 5–8 × 2.5–3 mm at the base, pale yellow, sepals 1–4.5 × (0.5–) 2–3.5 mm, glabrous, no visible venation, petals 3–5 mm long at the apex, 4–7 × 1.5–3 mm at the base, glabrous, with broadly acute tips, indistinct nerves, stamens 2–4 mm long, anthers 1.8–3 mm long, filaments 0.8–2 mm long, pistillode 1.5 mm long; pistillate flowers short conical to rounded, brown to dark reddish brown (when dry), 4–6 × 3–5 mm, sepals 4–6 × 4–5 mm, glabrous, venation slightly raised to obscure, slightly keeled, petals 3–4.5 × 3–5 mm, valvate tips nearly absent–1/4 the length of the petal, ca. 0.2–1 mm long, glabrous, veins visible near the margins, pistil 3–4 × 2–3 mm, mostly glabrous, but occasionally with a few scattered hairs, stigmas 1 mm long, staminodal ring ca. 1–2 mm high. Fruit 1.5–2.5 × 1–2.5 cm, persistent perianth (cupule) dark reddish-brown, 10–11 mm wide, 3–5 mm deep, ring 2–3 mm in height, epicarp covered with dark brownish tomentum, orange-brown when mature, less than 0.5 mm thick, mesocarp 1–2 mm thick, orangish, succulent and fibrous; endocarp 1.3–1.7 × 0.8–0.9 cm, bony, yellowish brown, 1–2 mm thick, with no clusters of fibers; seeds (0.6–)0.8–11 × 0.5–0.6 cm, endosperm homogeneous. Germination remote-tubular.

Common name:— côco-da-raposa, fox-palm.

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Etymology:— The specific epithet, harleyi , honors the principle collector, Dr. Raymond M. Harley (1936– 2006), English botanist, a student of the Bahian Flora since the early 1970s and an expert on neotropical biodiversity and the flora of north-east Brazil.

Distribution and habitat:— This species is endemic to the Chapada Diamantina region of Bahia, Brazil, in high elevation campo rupestre, over sandy and rocky soils. It is distributed from as far north as Morro do Chapéu (where it is rare), common near Lençois, Palmeiras, and south to Jussiape (where it is abundant). All populations are found in the central Bahian sierras of the Serra do Sincorá in the South to the Serra do Tombador in the North.

This palm grows in campo rupestre at lower elevations but is more frequently at higher elevations above 900 m, growing in the little bit of sand and humus that collects in the cracks between the rocks. Sometimes this palm grows in large areas of sandy soils at the base of cliffs with an adjacent stream nearby (west of Mucugê) or in a sandy dune like deposit (Capetinga, northeast of Lençois). At lower elevations, 400–600 m, the plant still tends to grow in rocky soils, but the form of the leaf and peduncular bract take on a little different appearance (see notes).

Conservation:— This species grows within the boundaries of a national park and also in soils that are of no agricultural value, and many grow even in rather inaccessible places, so it is not considered to be threatened. Therefore, S. harleyi is classified as least concern, LC.

Phenology:— This species flowers and fruits all year around, but its flowers were seen in September to January and mature fruits were collected in September to February. This species fruits moderately in the beginning of the summer. The germination rate of the seed is low, and germination is slow (more than 6 months).

Uses:— Because of the large quantity of wax that accumulates on the leaves, children will sometimes gather the old dead leaves for starting domestic fires (fire tinder) for cooking etc. The plant is attractively ornamental such that it is recommended for cultivation in general landscaping and may be somewhat cold tolerant. It is particularly interesting for rock gardens.

Notes:— Syagrus harleyi has many short rachillae, up to 15 cm long, packed with pistillate flowers and ultimately congested with fruits.

Although the inflorescence remains consistent in its appearance, the leaves and peduncular bract vary depending on the elevation. At the higher elevations (above 900 m), the leaflets tend to be wider and are held stiffly from the rachis, that is, the ends of the leaflets are not pendulous and the peduncular bract is thicker and the expanded portion of the bract tends be wider or more inflated. At the lower elevations, 400–700 m, the narrower leaflets are flaccid, pendulous at their tips and the peduncular bract is thinner and the expanded portion skinner or rather much less inflated than its higher elevation relatives.

Among the high elevation acaulescent Syagrus species in central Bahia ( S. harleyi , S. microphylla , S. werdermannii ), S. harleyi tends to grow in true campo rupestre in rocky conditions and thin soils. Syagrus microphylla tends to grow in the lower white sandy areas that accumulate adjacent to the campo rupestre areas, although it will grow in rocky areas as well; and S. werdermannii actually grows in very deep light brown fine sandy soils on an isolated disjunct cerrado that could best be described as "campo limpo," clean fields, lacking trees.

Representative specimens:— BRAZIL. Bahia: Andaraí, South of Andaraí, 16 km along road to Mucugê near small town of Xique-Xique , 700–900 m, ca. –12.90, –41.32, 14 February 1977, R.M. Harley et al. 18696 ( CEPEC!, K!) ; Andaraí, um pouco antes de Rio Paraguaçu no caminho Andaraí / Mucugê , –12.82, –41.32, 28 September 1985, L.R. Noblick 4388 (F!, HUEFS!) ; Andaraí, Serra do Sincora , 343 m, –12.81, –41.33, 5 August 2001, Nonato, F.R. et al. 995 ( HUEFS!) ; Andaraí, caminho para antiga estrada para Xique-Xique do Igatu , 560 m, –12.82, –41.30, 14 February 1997, E. Saar 5601 ( ALCB!, HUEFS!) ; Jussiape, Caraguatai , Serra de Tobira , 800–1400 m, 3 km oeste de Paxão, –13.32, –41.68, 28 January 1986, L.R. Noblick & J. Lobo 4517 ( AAU!, ALCB!, BH!, CEN!, CEPEC!, F!, FTG!, HRB!, HUEFS!, K!, MO!, U!) ; Lençóis, Afloramento próximo ao ribeirão do meio, –12.52, –41.38, 14 May 2008, J.C. Brito 11 ( HUEFS) ; Lençóis , Serra da Chapadinha-Chapadinha , 910 m, –12.46, –41.44, 27 October 1994, A.M. de Carvalho 1094 ( ALCB, UFP) ; Lençois, 1 km leste da estrada Lençois BR-242 (entrada no km 3), 550 m, –12.56, –41.39, 5 July 1983, L. Coradin et al. 6481 ( CEN!, K!, MO, NY!, RB!, VEPAG!, UFP) ; Lençóis , – 12.57, –41.38, 27 August 2005, Couto, A.P.L. 152 ( HUEFS) ; Lençois , –12.56, –41.39, 24 August 1965, A.P. Duarte 9341 ( RB!) ; Lençóis , –12.56, –41.39, January 1997, L.S. Funch 1081, 1083 ( HUEFS) ; Lençóis, Serra da Chapadinha-Ao longo do córrego Chapadinha , 600 m, –12.45, –41.42, 6 February 1995, A.M. Giulietti 1609 ( ALCB, UFP) ; Lençóis , Serra da Chapadinha-Chapadinha , 750 m, –12.47, –41.42, 30 June 1995, M.L. Guedes 2047 ( ALCB, CEPEC, UFP) ; Lençois , 2 September 1985, J.L. de S. Lima & L.R. Noblick s.n. ( HTSA!) ; Lençóis ,

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Phytotaxa 294 (1) © 2017 Magnolia Press • 107 Estrada para Lençóis, próximo ao entroncamento para Fazenda Remanso, 500 m, –12.56, –41.39, without date, G. Martinelli 5385 ( RB!) ; Lençois , Capitinga-na estrada para o aterro, 5 September 1999, E. Miranda-Silva et al. 212 ( HUEFS!) ; Lençois , perto do cemetério, –12.57, –41.38, 29 September 1985, L.R. Noblick 4389 ( CEN!, CEPEC!, F!, FTG!, HRB!, HUEFS!, IPA!, K!, NY!, RB!, SP!, US!) ; Lençóis , ca. 6,0 km NE of the city on the main highway coming into Lençóis, in an area called Capetinga, 450 m, –12.57, –41.36, 16 November 1997, L.R. Noblick 5171 ( HUEFS!) ; Lençóis , Serra da Chapadinha-Serra da Chapadinha , 940 m, –12.45, –41.45, 30 July 1994, A. Pereira 331 ( ALCB, UFP) ; Lençóis , Rio Mandassaia, –12.47, –41.43, 17 May 2001, A.A. Ribeiro-Filho 267 ( HUEFS) ; Lençóis , Capitinga. Solo arenoso profundo, de fisionomia semelhante a vegetação de restinga, –12.50, –41.38, 29 April 1999, F.F. Rocha 29 ( HUEFS, SP) ; Lençóis , Capitinga, –12.50, –41.38, 4 September 1999, F.F. Rocha 39 ( HUEFS) ; Lençóis , Capitinga, –12.50, –41.38, 20 February 2000, F.F. Rocha 55 ( HUEFS) ; Lençóis , Serra da Chapadinha-Serra do Brejão, 640 m, –12.46, –41.441, 28 September 1994, G. Stam 904 ( ALCB, CEPEC, UFP) ; Lençóis , Chapadinha, 1 km W of road to Lençóis on BR 242, 850 m, –12.56, –41.39, 12 March 2002, W.W. Thomas 12981 ( NY) ; Morro do Chapéu , Chapada Diamantina, campinho para Venturra, na estrada, –11.55, –42.50, 7 September 2002, M.L. Guedes 9820 ( HUESB) ; Morro do Chapéu , Cachoeira do Ferro Doido, 900 m, –11.55, – 41.16, 28 October 1978, G. Martinelli et al. 5319 ( RB!) ; Morro do Chapéu , estrada Seabra-Feira de Santana ( BA) , a partir de Palmeiras , –11.49, –41.32, 4 March 2006, R. Tsuji et al. 1156 ( HPL!, IAC) ; Mucugê , 800 m, –13.01, – 41.37, 3 August 1989, G. F. E. Abrahão s.n. ( MBML!) ; Mucugê , prox. Mucugê, 960 m, –13, –41.41, 25 March 1980, A.P. de Araujo 289 ( HRB!) ; Mucugê , beira da estrada para Andaraí, ca. de 2 km, 1000 m, 16 December 1989, M.G. Arraes et al. 7014 ( SPF 36814 !) ; Mucugê , Serra do Sincorá, 2 km N of Mucugê city on road to Andaraí. 950 m, –13.01, –41.37, 9 May 1976, C.E. Calderon et al. 2418 ( CEPEC!, F!, US!) ; Mucugê , 6 December 1980, M. Furlan et al. 437 (K!, SPF) ; Mucugê , without date, M. Furlan et al. 1588 ( CFCR!, K!) ; Mucugê , without date, M. Furlan et al. 1952 ( CFCR!, K!) ; Mucugê , Chapada Diamantina, 1000 m, –12.95, –41.47, 28 June 1997, M.L. Guedes 4900 ( ALCB!) ; Mucugê , Chapada Diamantina, 1000 m, –13, –41.37, 5 February 1997, M.L. Guedes 5105 ( ALCB!) ; Mucugé , by Rio Cumbuca ca. 3 km S of Mucugé. near site of small dam on road to Cascavel, 850 m, – 13.02, –41.35, 4 February 1974, R.M. Harley, S. Renvoize, C. Erskine & C. Brighton 15963 ( CEPEC!, F!, IPA!, K!, MO!, NY!, RB!, US) ; Mucugê , Arredores de Mucugê, –13.01, –41.37, 17 June 1984, G. Hatschbach & Kummrow 48000 ( CEPEC, MBM!, NY, US) ; Mucugê , 2–3 km S, –13.01, –41.37, 8 April 1992, G. Hatschbach et al. 56875 ( MBM!) ; Mucugê , 2–3 km de las ville, Criminose, 11 September 1993, F. Lechat & M. Pignal 459 (P!) ; Mucugê , na estrada da Barra da Estiva a ca. 3 km de Mucugê, 1000 m, –13.01, –41.41, 5 February 2009, H. Lorenzi 6597 ( HPL!) ; Mucugê , 3 km ao S de Mucugê, na estrada para Jussiape, 1000 m, –13.00, –41.40, 26 July 1979, S.A. Mori et al. 12638 ( BH!, CEPEC!, NY!, US!) ; Mucugê , Estrada entre Andaraí e Mucugê. 900–1000 m, –12.25, –41.30, 20 November 1983, L.R. Noblick et al. 2867 ( CEPEC!, F!, HUEFS!, MO!) ; Mucugê , 6 km W da cidade na entrada para Boninal, 900–1000 m, –13.00, –41.45, 28, 28 September 1985, L.R. Noblick 4387 ( CEPEC!, F!, HUEFS!, RB!, NY!) ; Mucugê , prés de l’entrée de la ville, –13.00, –41.37, 800 m, 20 August 2005, M. Pignal et al. 2561 (P!) ; Mucugê , Parque Municipal Sempre-Viva. Trilha para cachoeira do tiburtino, –12.98, –41.33, 31 October 2011, R.P. Oliveira 1913 ( HUEFS!) ; Mucugê , without date, J.R. Pirani et al. 1642 ( CFCR!) ; Mucugê , 1000–1200 m, –12.97, –41.33, without date, C.M. Pigozzo 30 ( HUEFS) ; Mucugê , Chapada Diamantina, 980 m, –12.99, – 41.34, 8 July 2006, N. Roque 1424 ( ALCB) ; Mucugê , Chapada Diamantina, 948 m, –13.02, –41.34, 19 May 2007, N. Roque 1546 ( ALCB) ; Mucugê , Chapada Diamantina, 941 m, –13.00, –41.39, 22 May 2010, N. Roque 2828 ( ALCB) ; Mucugê , Chapada Diamantina, –12.91, –41.25, 30 April 2001, D.L. Santana 194 ( ALCB) ; Mucugé , Chapada Diamantina. Parque Municipal de Mucugê / Projeto Sempre Viva. BA-km 42 a 46. Mata de Zé Leandro, 900 m, –12.98, –41.32, 7 January 1998, M.T.S. Stradmann 576 ( ALCB, CEPEC) ; Mucugê , a 6 km N de Mucugê, estrada Mucugê / Andaraí, 22 July 1985, M.G.L. Wanderley et al. 967 ( SP!) ; Mucugê , Parque Municipal de Mucugê, –13.01, –41.37, 7 April 2008, M.G.L. Wanderley 2671 ( SP) ; Palmeiras , –12.95, –42, 2 September 1985, J.L. de S. Lima & L.R. Noblick 71 ( HTSA!) ; Palmeiras , ca. 1–2 km oeste da entrada para serra Pai Inácio no BR 242, 890 m, –12.43, –41.53, 2 September 1985, L.R. Noblick & J.L. de S. Lima 4379 (F!, HUEFS!) ; Palmeiras , 4 km leste de Posto Pai Inácio na BR 242, 810 m, –12.47, –41.42, 2 September 1985, L.R. Noblick & J.L. de S. Lima 4380 ( CEPEC!, F!, GH!, HUEFS!, MBM!, SP!) ; Palmeiras , a saída de Palmeiras a 15 km de Guine, 17 November 1983, Pinto 416-A/83 ( HRB!) ; Seabra , –12.44, –41.49, 3 February 2010, H. Lorenzi et al. 6818 ( HPL!) .

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Figures

FIGURE 37. Syagrus harleyi. A. Rocky habitat near Jussiape, Bahia with guide (Noblick & Lobo 4517). B. High elevation habit in a rocky crevice near Mucugê, Bahia. C. Flowering palm with driver for scale near Mucugê, Bahia (Noblick 4387). D. Inflorescence with stiffer leaflets of high elevation form near Mucugê, Bahia. E. Infructescence with mature fruit. F. Infructescence with developing fruit. G. Mature infructescence of low elevation form. H. Low elevation population near Lençois, Bahia (Noblick 5171) in sandy soil. I. Low elevation habit with pendulous or lax leaflets with Roy Funch near Lençois, Bahia.

FIGURE 38. Distribution maps of Syagrus harleyi, S. hoehnei, S. inajai, S. insignis, S. itacambirana, S. itapebiensis and S. kellyana.