Syagrus
Encyclopedia
Syagrus is a genus
of 30 to 42 species
of Arecaceae
(palms), native to South America
, with one species endemic to the Lesser Antilles
. The genus is closely related to the Cocos
, or coconut genus, and many Syagrus species produce edible seeds similar to the coconut.
s are not present in the genus; inflorescences emerge from the leaf crown. Leaves
are pinnate
, often recurved, from 2 to 5 m. They are monoecious, producing white or off-white unisexual flowers of both sexes. The woody bract
is spoon or boat-shaped.
, whose bill size and shape are particularly adapted to crack them.(del Hoyo et al. 1997).
Syagrus species are used as food plants by the larva
e of some Lepidoptera
species including Batrachedra nuciferae
(recorded on S. coronae), Hypercompe cunigunda
(feeds exclusively on S. romanzoffiana) and Paysandisia archon
(recorded on S. romanzoffiana).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of 30 to 42 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of Arecaceae
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
(palms), native to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, with one species endemic to the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
. The genus is closely related to the Cocos
Cocos
Cocos may refer to:* Cocos , a plant genus with the coconut as its only accepted species* Cocos Lagoon, south of Guam* Cocos Malays, an ethnic group inhabiting the Cocos Islands* Cocos Plate, a tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean...
, or coconut genus, and many Syagrus species produce edible seeds similar to the coconut.
Description
Palms in this group have solitary trunks, clusters, and subterranean stems. CrownshaftCrownshaft
An elongated circumferential leaf base formation present on some species of palm is called a crownshaft.The leaf bases of some pinnate leaved palms form a sheath at the top of the trunk surrounding the bud where all the subsequent leaves are formed.The crownshaft...
s are not present in the genus; inflorescences emerge from the leaf crown. Leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are pinnate
Pinnate
Pinnate is a term used to describe feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis in plant or animal structures, and comes from the Latin word pinna meaning "feather", "wing", or "fin". A similar term is pectinate, which refers to a comb-like arrangement of parts...
, often recurved, from 2 to 5 m. They are monoecious, producing white or off-white unisexual flowers of both sexes. The woody bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
is spoon or boat-shaped.
Ecology
S. coronata nuts are the favored food of Lear's MacawLear's Macaw
The Lear's Macaw , also known as the Indigo Macaw, is a rare Brazilian parrot with a highly restricted range. It is metallic blue with a faint, often barely visible, tinge of green, and a yellow patch of skin at the base of the heavy, black bill. It weighs around 950 g and is 75 cm long...
, whose bill size and shape are particularly adapted to crack them.(del Hoyo et al. 1997).
Syagrus species are used as food plants by the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e of some Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
species including Batrachedra nuciferae
Batrachedra
Batrachedra is the largest genus in the moth family Batrachedridae.It includes the following species:*Batrachedra acrodeta*Batrachedra agaura*Batrachedra albanica*Batrachedra albicapitella*Batrachedra albistrigella...
(recorded on S. coronae), Hypercompe cunigunda
Hypercompe
Hypercompe is a genus of moths of the family Arctiidae. There are over 80 species found throughout the Americas. Several species were formerly separated in Ecpantheria which is now regarded as a junior synonym. They are typically large moths with white forewings heavily spotted with black, and...
(feeds exclusively on S. romanzoffiana) and Paysandisia archon
Paysandisia archon
Paysandisia archon is a moth of the family Castniidae. It is native to Uruguay and central Argentina and has been accidentally introduced to Europe, where it is spreading rapidly. It is considered the only member of the genus Paysandisia....
(recorded on S. romanzoffiana).
Selected species
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Syagrus macrocarpa Syagrus macrocarpa is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Brazil.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Noblick, L. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007.... Barb.Rodr. Syagrus picrophylla Syagrus picrophylla is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Brazil.-References:* Noblick, L. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007.... Barb.Rodr. Syagrus pseudococos Syagrus pseudococos is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Brazil.-References:* Noblick, L. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007.... (Raddi) Glassman Syagrus romanzoffiana Syagrus romanzoffiana is a palm native to South America, from northern Argentina north to eastern Brazil and west to eastern Bolivia. It is very similar to the coconut palm. It had been classified within the Cocos genus as Cocos plumosa, was assigned to Arecastrum, then moved to Syagrus... (Cham.) Glassman – Queen Palm Syagrus ruschiana Syagrus ruschiana is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Brazil.-References:* Noblick, L. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007.... (Bondar) Glassman Syagrus smithii Syagrus smithii is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.-References:* Henderson, A. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007.... (H.E.Moore) Glassman Syagrus stratincola Syagrus stratincola is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found in French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* de Granville, J.J 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007.... Wess.Boer |
Formerly placed here
- Butia campicola (Barb.Rodr.) Noblick (as S. campicola (Barb.Rodr.) Becc.)
- Butia capitataButia capitataButia capitata, also known as Pindo Palm or Jelly Palm, is a palm native to Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.This palm grows up to 6m in a slow but steady manner...
(Mart.) Becc. (as S. capitata (Mart.) Glassman) - Butia eriospathaButia eriospathaButia eriospatha is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Brazil.-References:* Noblick, L. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007....
(Mart. ex Drude) Becc. (as S. eriospatha (Mart. ex Drude) Glassman) - Butia paraguayensisButia paraguayensisButia paraguayensis is a species of palm tree found in the Gran Chaco region of South America. Its natural range runs from Mato Grosso do Sul and Parana in southern Brazil through Paraguay to northern Argentina...
(Barb.Rodr.) L.H.Bailey (as S. paraguayensis (Barb.Rodr.) Glassman) - Butia yatayButia yatayButia yatay is a palm native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina.It is the tallest of all the species in the Butia genus.- External links :*http://www.sunpalmtrees.com/Cold-Hardy-Palm-Trees-Pindo-Palms.htm...
(Mart.) Becc. (as S. dyerana (Barb. Rodr.) Becc. and S. yatay (Mart.) Glassman) - Lytocaryum weddellianumLytocaryum weddellianumLytocaryum weddellianum , also known as the miniature coconut palm or Weddell's palm, is a feather palm in the palm family. It is closely related to the coconut palm, but is much smaller and more cold tolerant, taking down to about . This palm can be successfully grown in hardiness zones 9b–11. The...
(H.Wendl.) Toledo (as S. insignis (hort. ex Drude) Becc. and S. weddelliana (H.Wendl.) Becc.)