Socratea rostrata Burret, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 15: 31 (1940)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Colombia present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Ecuador present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Peru present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Premontane forest on both sides of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador. The species usually becomes abundant suddenly in a certain (variable) altitudinal zone; its distribution appears to be linked to frequent occurence of fog. (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)A

Discussion

  • Plants from the two sides of the Andes and from different elevations have been considered to belong to separate species, based on differences in the structure and size of pinnae and inflorescence branches. (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)A

Description

  • Canopy palm. Stem solitary, to 25 m tall, and 15-30 cm in diameter, supported by many, thick, brown to black stiltroots armed with numerous short, white root spines. Leaves 1.5-3.5 m long; pinnae 15-25 on each side, longitudinally split into 2-10 unequal, elongate segments, these to 130 cm long, often with a golden brown indument below. Inflorescence axis 30-70 cm long; branches 5-15, to 80 cm long. Male flowers ca. 8-17 mm long, with 60-145 stamens. Female flowers ca. 8 mm long. Fruit elongate, 2.5-5 cm long, smooth, conspicuously rostrate. (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)A

Use Record

  • Socratea rostrata Burret: El tallo de esta palma se usa para postes en la construcción de casas, tiene una cubierta con abundantes fibras negras y una parte central suave. Los tallos pueden ser abiertos apra hacer tablones o tiras que son usados en la construcción de casas. Las hojas son usadas para tejer techos, pero duran menos que las de "pushihua" (Iriartea deltoidea) (…) (Balslev, H., M. Rios, G. Quezada and B. Nantipa 1997: Palmas útiles en la cordillera de los Huacamayos)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionHousesStemColonoN/AEcuador
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousQuichuaEcuador
  • Socratea rostrata Burret: Palm heart edible. Wood used for house construction. Spiny stilt roots used as kitchen tool to grade manioc and plantain. (Báez, S. 1998: Dictionary of plants used by the Canelos-Quichua)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Utensils and ToolsDomesticRootIndigenousQuichuaEcuador
    Human FoodFoodPalm heartIndigenousQuichuaEcuador
    ConstructionHousesStemIndigenousQuichuaEcuador
  • Socratea rostrata Burret: Seeds are eaten when young and soft. Stems are used for posts and floors and the spiny stilt roots serve as grinders for plantains. (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionHousesStemIndigenousQuichuaEcuador
    Utensils and ToolsDomesticRootIndigenousQuichuaEcuador
    Human FoodFoodSeedsNot identifiedN/AEcuador

Bibliography

    A. Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae