Chamaedorea klotzschiana H.Wendl., Index Palm. : 63 (1854)

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Distribution

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

Discussion

  • Wendland (1854) described and named C. klotzschiana from material growing at Herrenhausen. It is apparently restricted to the state ofVeracruz in Mexico. C. klotzschiana is one ofthe most distinct members of the genus and is easily recognizable by its lanceolate pinnae clustered in groups of 2-4 along the rachis. C. glaucifolia also has its leaflets clustered in groups along the rachis but the more numerous (40-80 on each side), narrowly linear pinnae in several planes distinguish it from C. klotzschiana.
    Because of its attractive foliage, C. klotzschiana is widely cultivated and much sought after by collectors. It is found in gardens and collections in California, Florida, Hawaii, and Australia. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Dense, wet forest; 500-1,250 m elevation. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Etymology

  • Honors Wendland's friend and colleague, botanist J. Friedrich Klotzsch. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Common Name

  • Tepejilote - Mexico. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

    Description

    • Habit: solitary, erect, 1-4 m tall. Stem: 1.5-2.8 cm diam., green, smooth, prominently ringed, internodes 5-20 cm long. Leaves: 4-6, pinnate, erect-spreading; sheath 25-35 cm long, tubular, obliquely open apically, fibrous, green, drying grayish brown and persisting on stem, durable, nearly woody, longitudinally striate-nerved with a rounded ridge extending from petiole; petiole 17-40 cm long, slightly channeled and green above, rounded and pale below; rachis 0.6-1 m long, slightly angled and green above, rounded below with a ± inconspicuous greenish stripe extending onto sheath; pinnae 12-20 on each side ofrachis, 20-40 x 3.6-5 cm, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, ± sigmoid, clustered in groups of 2-4, groups 8-17 cm apart, long-acuminate, margins entire, lustrous green, midrib and 2 marginal primary nerves especially prominent below, 3 secondaries on each side of midrib, tertiaries numerous, faint. Inflorescences: infrafoliar, sometimes emerging from top of or thrusting off persistent dried leaf sheaths, 40-70 cm long, longpedunculate; peduncles 30-45 cm long, ± rounded but flattened basally, 1-2 cm wide at base, 0.7-1 cm wide at apex, erect and green in flower, downward-arching and red-orange in fruit; bracts 5-6, upper one largest, to 30 cm long and exceeding peduncle, fibrous, durable, acute-acuminate, ± tightly sheathing, longitudinally striate-nerved. Staminate with rachis 5-20 cm long, green in flower, downward-pointing; rachillae 12-20, these 20-30 cm long, 2 mm diam., drooping, green in flower. Pistillate with rachis 5-20 cm long, erect, green in flower, redorange in fruit; rachillae 12-20, these 15-25 cm long, 1.5-2 mm diam., ± stiff, spreading, green and erect in flower, red-orange and downward-pointing when heavily laden with fruits. Flowers: Staminate in ± dense spirals, 3 x 3.5 mm, depressed-globose, flattened apically, greenish yellow, sunken in elliptic superficial depressions 1.5-2 mm long; calyx 1 x 2-2.5 mm, shallowly lobed, light green, nerveless, sepals connate in basal 3/4 rounded apically; petals 3-3.5 x 3.5 mm, obovate, valvate, connate apically and basally and apically adnate to pistillode and corolla opening by lateral slits, thin, fleshy, acute, nerveless; stamens 3 mm high, filaments 0.75-1.25 mm long, greenish yellow, anthers 1.75-2 mm long, oblong, yellow; pistillode 2.5-3 mm high, columnar, truncate apically, greenish yellow. Pistillate in lax spirals, 3 x 2.,.2.5 mm, ovoid-globose, yellow, in rounded superficial depressions 1.5-2 mm wide; calyx 1 x 2.5 mm, lobed, green, sepals connate in basal 1/4 triangular and rounded apically; petals 2.5 x 2.5-3 mm, obovate to scarcely circular, imbricate nearly to apex, and there straight and only slightly pointed, nerveless; staminodes lacking or 6, small, separated, inserted at base of pistil, slightly triangular; pistil 3 x 22.5 mm, ovoid-globose, yellow-green, stigma lobes sessile, separated, angled, slightly elevated and recurved, just exceeding petals. Fruits: 9-11.5 x 7-9 mm, globose-ovoid, black, occasionally 2-3 in one perianth, epicarp t1nn, slightly transparent, mesocarp slightly fleshy, green, mucilaginous, endocarp membranous, nerved; seeds 6-9 x 5.5-7 mm, globose, brownish. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

    Materials Examined

    • MEXICO. Veracruz: Castillo 555 (F); Rees 1643 (F); Vazquez 784 (GH); Vovides 136 (WIS). (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