Chamaedorea verapazensis Hodel & Cast.Mont, Phytologia 68: 390 (1990)

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Distribution

GUATEMALA. Alta Verapaz. Baja Verapaz. El Progreso. Huehuetenango. Zacapa. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Discussion

  • C. verapazensis is close to the highly variable C. pinnatifrons, from which it may not be distinct. However, the fruits maturing from green through a yellow or orange stage and then becoming black, the more tubular leafsheaths, and the curved peduncles shorter than the leaves distinguish C. pinnatifrons. C. verapazensis may be confused with C. rojasiana. The smaller habit, more tubular leaf sheaths, and fewer rachillae distinguish the latter species. Other than a few plants in the research collection in Los Angeles, C. verapazensis is apparently not cultivated. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Dense, wet forest on the Atlantic slope; 1,700-2,100 m elevation. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Etymology

  • Derived from the range of this species, originally found only in the Departments of Alta Verapaz and Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Description

  • Habit: solitary, slender, decumbent then briefly erect, 1-2 m tall. Stem: 8-10 mm diam., green, ringed, internodes 2-5 cm long, rooting along its length. Leaves: 5-6, erect-spreading, pinnate, bright green; sheath to 15 x 1.3-1.5 cm, tubular, obliquely long-open apically, green, longitudinally striate-nerved; petiole 5-18 cm long, flattened and green above, rounded and green below; rachis 12-22 cm long, angled and green above, rounded below and with a pale green or yellowish band extending onto sheath; blade to 40 x 28 cm; pinnae 2-5 on each side of rachis, basal ones to 17 x 4.5 em, lanceolate, strongly sigmoid, acuminate, 4-6 prominent primary nerves above, central one slightly more prominent, I secondary between each pair of primaries, tertiaries faint, inconspicuous, apical pinnae largest, to 15-22 x 5-9 cm, sigmoid, acuminate, exterior margin toothed toward apex, 7-10 prominent primary nerves above, 2 secondaries between each pair of primaries. Inflorescences: interfoliar; peduncles to 55 cm long, 3-4 mm wide at base and flattened, 1-3 mm diam. at apex and rounded, straight, erect-spreading, pale or light greenish in flower, orange in fruit where exposed; bracts 4-5, prophyll to 6 cm long, 2nd bract to 18 cm, 3rd to 35 cm, 4th to 30 cm, and extending onto rachis and concealing rudimentary 5th bract, closely sheathing, acuminate and obliquely open apically, greenish in flower, greenish or brown in fruit, longitudinally striate-nerved. Staminate exceeding leaves; rachis to 7 cm long, greenish in flower; rachillae 7-10, these to 17 cm long, slender, 1 mm diam., pendulous, greenish yellow in flower. Pistillate about equalling leaves; rachis to 3 cm long, pale green or greenish yellow in flower, orange in fruit; rachillae 2-5, these to 10 cm long, rigid, pale green or greenish yellow in flower, orange in fruit. Flowers: Staminate in 4 moderately dense rows, 2.5-3 mm diam., globose, only slightly sunken in superficial elliptic depressions 2-2.5 mmlong; calyx 1.5-2 x 2.5 mm, shallowly lobed, distinctly nerved when dry, sepals connate in basal 3/4, straight or broadly rounded apically; petals 2.5-3 x 2.5 mm, valvate, connate apically and basally and adnate apically to pistillode and corolla opening by lateral apertures, broadly ovate, acute, thick, fleshy, distinctly nerved when dry; stamens 1.5-2 mm high, filaments 1.0 mm long, adnate basally to petals, anthers 0.75-1 x 0.5 mm, elongate; pistillode 2.5 x I mm, broadly columnar, tip flat. Pistillate: in 4 ± lax and irregular rows, 2.5 mm diam., ± globose, sunken in elliptic depressions 2-2.5 mm long; calyx 1.5 x 2.5 mm, deeply lobed, strongly nerved when dry, sepals connate in basal 1/2, rounded apically; petals 2-2.5 x 2.5-3 mm, briefly connate basally, imbricate nearly to apex, rounded apically, fleshy, strongly nerved when dry; starninodes lacking; pistil 1.5-2mmdiam., globose, 3-angled, styles short or lacking, stigma lobes recurved, pointed, brownish. Fruits: to 11 x 9 mm, ± globose, green maturing black. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Materials Examined

  • GUATEMALA. Alta Verapaz: Cook 199 (US); Hodel 890, 893 (AGUAT, BH). Baja Verapaz: Hodel 885. 898B, 1106 (AGUAT, BH); Williams 43311 (F). El Progreso: Steyermark 43590 (F). Huehuetenango: Hodel 999 (AGUAT, BH). Zacapa: Steyermark 29932.42555 (F). (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.