Bactris maraja
| Bactris (BAHK-triss) maraja (mah-RAH-hah) | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Widespread and common from Costa Rica south through Central America, Colombia, and into the Amazon region; lowland and premontane rain forest, on terra firme or in inundated areas, at low elevations but occasionally reaching 1500 m. [[]]
Description
Stems solitary or cespitose, usually in open clumps of 2-15 stems, 1-7 (-10) m tall, 1-4 cm in diam., spiny on internodes. Leaves 3-10 per crown; leaf spines yellowish and then black at base and apex, or brown, flattened, to 5 (-10) cm long, moderate to dense on sheath, petiole, fewer on rachis; sheath 12-35 cm long, sheath, petiole, and rachis occasionally densely brown-tomentose; ocrea to 15 cm long; petiole 13-76 cm long; rachis 30-130 cm long; pinnae (2-) 6-30 per side (occasionally leaf simple), irregularly arranged in clusters of 2-5, spreading in different planes, or regularly arranged and spreading in the same plane, sigmoid to lanceolate, long-acuminate, occasionally pilose abaxially; middle pinnae 20-48 x 3-7 cm. Inflorescences interfoliar; peduncle 11-18 cm long, recurved, not spiny or spinulose; prophyll 8- 26 cm long; peduncular bract 15-38 cm long, whitish brown-tomentose, velvety brown-tornentose, not spiny or occasionally with flattened, yellowish or brownish spines to 8 mm long especially at the apex; rachis 1-5 cm long; rachillae 2-17, 5-15 cm long, at anthesis densely brown tomentose; triads irregularly arranged among paired or solitary staminate flowers; staminate flowers 3.5-5 mm long, deciduous; sepal lobes 0.5- 1.5 mm long; petals 3-5 mm long; stamens 6; pistillode absent; pistillate flowers 3-4 mm long; calyx tubular, 2.5-4 mm long, rarely spinulose; corolla tubular, 2.5-4 mm long, usually spinulose; staminodes absent; fruits to 1.7 cm in diam., widely depressed obovoid, rostrate, purple-black, usually minutely spinulose; mesocarp juicy; endocarp depressed-oblong, the sterile pores displaced longitudinally; endocarp fibers free, numerous, with juice sacs attached; fruiting perianth with deeply 3-lobed calyx half as long as the deeply 3-lobed, often spinulose corolla, without staminodial ring. (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.
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Bactris maraja is diagnosed by its yellowish or brownish, flattened leaf spines, 2-17 rachillae, pistillate flowers (and fruits) without a staminodial ring, and purple-black fruits. Synonymy was established by Wessels Boer (1965, 1988) and Henderson (1995). This species, previously known as Bactris monticola (e.g., Wessels Boer, 1965, 1988) is common, widespread, and variable and is perhaps one of the most poorly understood in the genus. There are not enough collections to resolve intraspecific variation. Henderson (1995) divided the species into three varieties, a scheme followed here, although somewhat modified. Here four varieties are recognized. In the first variety, called Bactris maraja by Martius and Trail, the leaf spines are flattened, yellowish at the middle and darker at the base and apex; the pinnae are broadly sigmoid, abruptly narrowed into a pendulous apex, often pilose abaxially, strongly clustered and spreading in different planes, and the apical pinnae is often wider than the others; and the peduncular bract is like cardboard and has flat, yellow spines or sometimes with short brown spinules. This variety often grows in low-lying, wet areas (and is commonly confused with B. brongniartii). There are two distinct fruit sizes, one larger and one smaller, and the form er was separated by Wessels Boer (1988) as Bactris macrocarpa. Plants with larger fruits are common in Guyana, Colombia (Chocó), and elsewhere. Some specimens have elongate fruits, but I believe these are caused by deformation. All these plants are here called var. maraja. The second variety, essentially a smaller version of var. maraja, is also found in low-lying, wet areas. It is smaller in all parts. In some specimens fruits are elongate (but again probably caused by some deformation). It is here called var. juruensis. This is an heterogeneous collection of specimens and may not represent a taxon. Two specimens, neither cited above (Brazil. Acre: Mun. Taumaturgo, Rio Tejo, 8°57'S, 72°33'W, 12 Mar 1992, Ferreira 128 (UFAC); Rio Juruá, above Cruzeiro do Sui, near Natal, 8°20'S, 72°15'W, 8 Feb 1992, Henderson et al. 1666 (NY)) are similar to the type of Bactris piranga, which is here treated as a synonym of var. juruensis. These may represent a distinct taxon, but more collections are needed. The third, common variety, usually occurring on terra firme, was called Bactris trichospatha by Trail. It often has darker spines, a densely brown-tomentose sheath and petiole, narrower pinnae that are often more or less regularly arranged, and a densely brown velutinous peduncular bract. Such plants are here called var. trichospatha. The fourth variety from Peru (Loreto) and Brazil (western Amazonas) has simple leaves, but is otherwise similar to var. trichospatha. It is here called var.chaetospatha. In some places, e.g., near Manaus, vars. marajaand trichospatha grow together, the former in várzea and the latter on terra firme, and are obviously distinct taxa; in other places, e.g., near Iquitos, the ecological boundary is unclear and there seem to be a number of intermediates. A few specimens appear to be hybrids with other species. (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)/Palmweb. |
Culture
Comments and Curiosities
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There are four subspecies: 1.) Bactris maraja var. chaetospatha; Peru (Loreto) and Brazil (western Amazonas), lowland rain forest at low elevations. Sheath, petiole, and rachis with moderate covering of flattened, brown or black spines; blade simple, 55-90 cm long, not pilose abaxially. Inflorescences interfoliar; peduncular bract velvety brown-spinulose, with flattened, brownish spines to 8 mm long especially at the apex; rachillae 2-9; fruits to 1.5 cm in diam., broadly obovoid, minutely spinulose. (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)/Palmweb. 2.) Bactris maraja var. juruensis; Distribution and habitat. Western Amazon region of Colombia (Amazonas, Vaupés), Peru (Loreto, Madre de Dios), Brazil (Amazonas), and Bolivia (Beni), and possibly French Guiana, lowland rain forest in várzea or terra flrme, at 200-250 m elevation. Sheath, petiole, and rachis with scattered to moderate covering of slightly flattened, yellowish spines; pinnae (2-) 6-11 per side, irregularly arranged, spreading in slightly different planes, sigmoid, with long, filamentous, minutely spiny apex. Inflorescences interfoliar; peduncular bract glabrous or with a few spines; rachillae 2-9; fruits to 1 cm in diam., broadly obovoid, usually not spinulose. Three specimens with spiny peduncular bracts, determined as B. penicillata, may belong here (French Guiana. Degrad Limousin, 4°35?N, 52°17?W, 22 Oct 1989, de Granville 11148 (CAY), 21 Dec 1986, de Granville 9095 (CAY); Montagne de Kaw, 23 Dec 1984, de Granville 7195 (CAY) (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)/Palmweb. 3.) Bactris maraja var. maraja; Costa Rica (Limón, Puntarenas), Panama (Colón, Darién, Panamá, San Blas), Colombia (Amazonas, Antioquia, Chocó, Córdoba, Putumayo, Santander, Valle del Cauca, Vichada), Venezuela (Amazonas, Bolívar), Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador (Napa), Peru (Amazonas, Huanuco, Loreto, San Martín, Ucayali), Brazil (Acre, Amazonas, Para, Rondonia, Roraima), and Bolívia (Beni, La Paz, Pando); lowland and pre montane rain forest, on terra firme or in inundated areas, 0-1500 m elevation. Sheath, petiole, and rachis with moderate to dense covering of flattened, yellowish brown spines; pinnae to 22 per side (rarely blade simple), irregularly arranged in clusters, spreading in different planes, usually sigmoid, often pilose abaxially. Inflorescences interfoliar; peduncular bract glabrous or whitish brown-tomentose, often with few, flattened, yellowish brown spines to 8 mm long, especially at the apex; rachillae to 17; fruils to 1.7 cm in diam, broadly obovoid, usually not spinulose. (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)/Palmweb. 4.) Bactris maraja var. trichospatha; Colombia (Amazonas, Meta), Venezuela (Amazonas, Bolívar), the Guianas, Peru (Cusco, Huánuco, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Ucayali), Brazil (Acre, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima), and Bolivia (Beni, Pando), lowland rain forest, usually on terra firme but also in inundated areas, at 10-1065 m elevation. Sheath, petiole, and rachis with moderate to dense covering of flattened, brown or black spines; pinnae to 30 per side, more or less regularly arranged, spreading in slightly different planes, usually lanceolate, not pilose abaxially. Inflorescences interfoliar; peduncular bract velvety brown-spinulose, not spiny or occasionally with flattened, brownish spines to 8 mm long especially at the apex; rachillae to 17; fruits broadly obovoid, to 1.7 cm in diam., usually minutely spinulose. (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)/Palmweb. Uses: The fruit is edible. Trunks are used in house construction as floor supports and rafters. The stem is used to make improvised hunting spears. The stem is used to carve blowgun darts if there is nothing better. The outer layer of the stem is used as a wadding for gun cartridges. The trunks are used for making holes in the ground where corn is planted. Medicinal: A decoction of adventitous roots is drunk to cure bad coughs and sore throats. |
- IMAGE GALLERY
Yasuni National Park, 50ha plot, Orellana, EcuadorPhoto by Dr. William J. Baker, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
External Links
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.
Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.
Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).
Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.
