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

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Distribution

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