Chamaedorea latisecta (H.E.Moore) A.H.Gentry, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 73: 163 (1986)

Primary tabs

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Content

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Colombia present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
COLOMBIA. Putumayo. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Discussion

  • The description is taken from Moore (1949) who described and named C. latisecta from material that R. E. Schultes collected in Colombia. The broadly Ianceolate pinnae markedly narrowed at both ends distinguish it from all other species in subgenus Morenia. C. latisecta is known with certainty only from the type and does not appear to be cultivated. However, further study may show that it is but a variant of the C. linearis complex. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Dense, wet forest; 2,000-2,300 m elevation (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Etymology

  • From the Latin latisectus meaning cut into broad sections in reference to the broad pinnae. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Description

  • Habit: solitary, erect, to 8 m tall. Stem: green, ringed. Leaves: pinnate, to 1.3 m long; sheath and petiole glabrous, striated; rachis at least I m long; pinnae lion each side of rachis, lower and median ones 40-60 x 9-12 cm, broadly lanceolate, contracted basally to 1.5 cm wide, falcate, tapered on lower margin to a slender acuminate tip, alternate to subopposite at intervals of mostly 6-8 cm along rachis, upper and terminal pinnae 25-40 x 3-5 cm, lanceolate, more closely spaced, ± evenly tapered to a shorter tip, all glabrous, prominently nerved, green above, green with yellowish nerves below. Inflorescences: Staminate interfoliar, 6 per node, innermost pair developing first, outermost last; peduncle 25 cm long; bracts 3, lower one 12 cm long, upper one 20 cm long, exceeding peduncle, tubular with flaring apices; rachis 12 cm long; rachillae 50, these 3-7.5 cm long, simple, closely spaced. Pistillate solitary, large; peduncle 40 cm long, erect; bracts 5, lowermost 3.5 cm long; rachis 27 cm long, pendulous; rachillae 30, these 12-20 cm long, simple, ascending with pendulous tips. Flowers: Staminate borne spirally in pairs, depressed and angled in bud, yellow; calyx 0.6 mm high, lobed, lobes deltoid; petals 3 mm long, ovate, valvate, thick; stamens 1/2-2/3 as long as petals; pistillode conspicuous, 3-lobed. Pistillate with calyx 3 mm high, deeply lobed, lobes entire or irregularly crenate, exceeding corolla remains. Fruits: immature 12 x 10 mm, nearly globose, green. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Bibliography

    A. Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae