Bactris jamaicana L.H.Bailey, Gentes Herb. 4: 177 (1938)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Jamaica present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Jamaica. Submontane rain forest on slopes, or savannas, 330-860 m elevation. (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)A

Discussion

  • Bactris jamaicana is diagnosed by its linear pinnae 43-69 per side, and depressed-globose, orange or red fruits 0.9-1.2 cm in diameter. See Salzman & Judd (1995) for a detailed description and discussion of the relationships of this species. (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)A

Common Name

  • Jamaica: macca, prickly pole. (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)A

Description

  • Stems cespitose, 7-12 m tall, 10-12 cm diam., spiny on internodes.
    Leaves 3-7; leaf spines somewhat clustered, black, to 3 cm long, often in 3 longitudinal rows on petiole; sheath 35-60 cm long; ocrea not seen; petiole 20-70 cm long; rachis 1.1-2.3 m long; pinnae 42-69 per side, irregularly arranged in obscure clusters, spreading in different planes, linear, unequally bifid with midrib terminating subapically, spiny; middle pinnae 50-65 x 3-6.2 cm.
    Inflorescences interfoliar; peduncle to 15 cm long, recurved, spinulose; prophyll to 15 cm long; peduncular bract 40-45 cm long, densely covered with black spines to 3.5 cm long; rachis to 12 cm long; rachillae 37-46, 5-11 cm long, at anthesis densely covered with whitish, moniliform trichomes; triads irregularly arranged among paired or solitary staminate flowers; staminate flowers 3-3.5 mm long; sepal lobes to 1.5 mm long; petals ca. 3 mm long; stamens 6; pistillode absent; pistillate flowers 3-3.5 mm long; calyx annular, to 1 mm long; corolla tubular, 2.5-3 mm long; staminodes 6, minute, digitate; fruits 0.9-1.3 cm diam., depressed-globose, orange or red; mesocarp mealy or oily; endocarp turbinate, the sterile pores slightly displaced longitudinally; endocarp fibers absent; fruiting perianth with small calyx and three-angled, 2 mm long corolla, without staminodial ring. (Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000)A

Bibliography

    A. Henderson, A.J., Bactris (Palmae) in Flora Neotropica Monographs 79. 2000
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae