Difference between revisions of "Bactris campestris"

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Savannah surrounding the intersection of Galion.

Bactris (BAK-triss) campestris (Kam-PES-triss)
Savannah surrounding the intersection of Galion.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Bactris (BAK-triss) Species: campestris (Kam-PES-triss)
Synonyms
Bactris leptocarpa, Bactris savannarum, Bactris lanceolata.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary & clustering. Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Brazil: mumbaca branca. Suriname: kiskismaka. Venezuela: cubarro, ibasabasa.

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil North, and Northeast, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Northeastern South America in eastern Colombia, (Caqueta, Vichada), Venezuela (Amazonas, Delta Amacuro), the Guianas, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil (Amapa, Amazonas, Maranhao, Pará, Roraima). (Henderson, A.J. 2000). Found in open areas, white-sand savannas, or in low forest on white sand, generally in poorly drained places, at 10-420(-800) m. elevation.

Description

A clustering palm of the savannahs, especially on white sand, thorny stem, up to 7m. Bactris campestris is diagnosed, by its grayish brown (darker at base and apex), strongly flattened leaf spines, reddish brown tomentum of the inflorescence, and small, globose, red or orange-red fruits. It is further distinguished by its open, savanna habitat. It varies considerably in the size of all its parts, than plants from forest margins that are usually much larger than those from open areas. Stems cespitose, in small clumps, 1-5 m tall, 3-4 cm. in diam., often covered with persistent, decaying leaf bases. Leaves 2-5 per crown; leaf spines somewhat clustered, grayish brown, darker at base and apex, strongly flattened, occasionally spinulose and tomentose, 2(-4) cm. long, dense on sheath and petiole, fewer on abaxial surface of rachis, rarely few and then only on sheath; sheath 24-50 cm. long, sheath, petiole, and rachis often gray-tomentose, with reddish brown or black scales; ocrea to 10 cm long; petiole 15-90 cm long; rachis 0.6-1.1 m. long; pinnae 17-32, irregularly arranged in clusters of 2-5, spreading in different planes.

Stems seldom solitary usually clustering and cespitose (growing in tufts or clumps), 1-5 m tall, 3-4 cm in diam., often covered with persistent, decaying leaf bases. Leaves 2-5 per crown; leaf spines somewhat clustered, grayish brown, darker at base and apex, strongly flattened, occasionally spinulose and tomentose, 2(-4) cm long, dense on sheath and petiole, fewer on abaxial surface of rachis, rarely few and then only on sheath; sheath 24-50 cm long, sheath, petiole, and rachis often gray-tomentose, with reddish brown or black scales; ocrea to 10 cm long; petiole 15-90 cm long; rachis 0.6-1.1 m long; pinnae 17-32, irregularly arranged in clusters of 2-5, spreading in different planes, linear, Iinear-lanceolate, or oblanceolate, unequally bifid at apex; middle pinnae 26-52 x 1.5-5 cm. Inflorescences interfoliar; peduncle 13-20 cm long, recurved, spiny or not spiny; prophyll 11-20 cm long; peduncular bract 26-40 cm long, densely gray-or brown-tomentose, covered with gray or brown spines to 1.5 cm long; rachis 1-6 cm long; rachillae 8-39, 5-15 cm long, at anthesis covered with dense, reddish brown moniliform trichomes and flexuous trichomes; triads irregularly arranged among paired or solitary staminate flowers; staminate flowers 3-4 mm long, deciduous; sepal lobes 0.5 mm long; petals 3-3.5 mm long; stamens 6; pistillode absent; pistillate flowers 3-3.5 mm long; calyx annular, 0.3-0.5 mm long; corolla tubular, 2.5-3 rum long, sometimes covered with trichomes; staminodes absent; fruits 0.5-1 cm in diam., depressed-globose, red or orange-red; mesocarp starchy; endocarp turbinate, the sterile pores slightly displaced longitudinally; endocarp fibers few, free; fruiting perianth with small calyx and broadly 3-lobed corolla, without staminodial ring. Editing by edric. (Henderson, A.J. 2000).

Bactris campestris is diagnosed by its grayish brown (darker at base and apex), strongly flattened leaf spines, reddish brown tomentum of the inflorescence, and small, globose, red or orange-red fruits. It is further distinguished by its open, savanna habitat. It varies considerably in the size of all its parts, and plants from forest margins are usually much larger than those from open areas. Synonymy was established by Wessels Boer (1965, 1988). (Henderson, A.J. 2000).

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a.

Comments and Curiosities

The palm heart is mixed with water, and placed on the tongue to treat rattlesnake bites.

External Links

• Glossary of Palm Terms
• MODERN BOTANICAL LATIN
• "Just To Be Clear"

References

All information translated from the French, edric.

Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos, edric.

Special thanks to palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos, edric.

Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.