Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth, Enum. Pl. 3: 229 (1841)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Bolivia present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)A
Brazil North present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)A
Colombia present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)A
Ecuador present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)A
French Guiana present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)A
Guyana present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)A
Peru present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)A
Suriname present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)A
Venezuela present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)A

Discussion

  • Taxonomic notes: - Geonoma maxima is a member of the G. macrostachys clade, differing from all other species in its locular epidermis without an operculum. It also has more branched inflorescences (4-50 rachillae) compared to the rest of the clade (1-9 rachillae). It is another variable species which has been treated differently by Wessels Boer (1968) and Henderson et al. (1995). Unlike other species complexes, for example G. macrostachys, G. maxima exhibits rather well-defined geographic disjunction and morphological variation, allowing for recognition of various subspecies, as explained below.

    Subspecific variation: - Four traits vary within this species (stem branching, leaf division, leaf plication, pistillate flower persistence). There are very few data for stem branching, and this and leaf division are excluded from the following analyses. Leaf plication and pistillate flower persistence divide the specimens into three groups. However, leaf plication is difficult to score in this species and specimens with persistent pistillate flowers may be of hybrid origin (see below). Furthermore, there is no geographic separation between these groups. Geonoma maxima is widespread across the Amazon region, and there are isolated populations in the Magdalena valley and Pacific coast of Colombia and eastern Andean slopes in Venezuela. Apart from traits, one attribute (leaf division) divides the specimens into two groups. Leaves of one group are regularly pinnate and the pinnae (at least those from the middle part of the leaf) have several main veins, usually three to five. In the second group, all specimens have either undivided leaves, irregularly pinnate leaves (sometimes with 1-veined pinnae present), or leaves with 1-veined pinnae (at least those from the middle part of the leaf). The first group - with regularly pinnate leaves with 3-5-veined pinnae - can be divided into four separate subgroups based partly on geography and partly on variables. ANOVA shows that for pair wise comparison probabilities, 18 variables (plant height, stem diameter, internode length, petiole length, rachis length, rachis width, basal pinna length, basal pinna width, apical pinna length, apical pinna angle, prophyll length, interbract distance, peduncle length, peduncle width, rachilla length, rachilla width, number of rachillae, fruit diameter) differ significantly (P <0.05) between at least one pair of subgroups, although no variable differs amongst all four subgroups. Based on these results and geography, these four subgroups are recognized as subspecies (subspp. hexasticha, maxima, multiramosa, sigmoidea). The second group - with leaves undivided, irregularly pinnate (sometimes with 1-veined pinnae present), or regularly pinnate with 1-veined pinnae - can be divided into six separate subgroups based partly on geography, partly on variables, and on one trait (leaf plication). ANOVA shows that for pair wise comparison probabilities, 22 variables (plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, petiole length, rachis length, rachis width, number of pinnae, basal pinna length, basal pinna width, basal pinna angle, apical pinna length, apical pinna width, apical pinna angle, prophyll length, interbract distance, peduncle length, peduncle width, rachilla length, rachilla width, number of rachillae, fruit length, fruit diameter) differ significantly (P <0.05) between at least one pair of subgroups, although no variable differs amongst all six subgroups. Based on these results and geography, these six subgroups are recognized as subspecies (subspp. ambigua, chelidonura, camptoneura, compta, dispersa, spixiana). (Henderson, A.J. (2011) A revision of Geonoma. Phytotaxa 17: 1-271.)B

Description

  • Plants 3.2(1.0-9.0) m tall; stems 2.9(1.0-7.0) m tall, 1.2(0.5-2.3) cm in diameter, solitary or clustered, canelike; internodes 2.4(0.5-8.7) cm long, yellowish and smooth. Leaves 9(4-19) per stem, undivided or irregularly pinnate, if regularly pinnate the pinnae with 1 main vein only (rarely with several lateral veins), not plicate or plicate, bases of blades running diagonally into the rachis; sheaths 12.6(4.0-30.0) cm long; petioles 34.6(1.0-100.0) cm long, drying green or yellowish; rachis 44.0(7.3-120.0) cm long, 3.6(1.4-7.1) mm in diameter; veins raised and rectangular in cross-section adaxially; pinnae 8(1-31) per side of rachis; basal pinna 43.2(8.2-132.0) cm long, 3.9(0.1-34.0) cm wide, forming an angle of 47(7-87)° with the rachis; apical pinna 32.8(8.5-86.0) cm long, 9.6(0.2-42.5) cm wide, forming an angle of 23(7-42)° with the rachis. Inflorescences branched 1-3 orders; prophylls and peduncular bracts not ribbed with elongate, unbranched fibers, flattened, deciduous or persistent; prophylls 10.6(3.7-21.8) cm long, not short and asymmetrically apiculate, the surfaces not ridged, without unequally wide ridges; peduncular bracts 8.7(4.7-13.0) cm long, well-developed, inserted 0.6(0.2-3.0) cm above the prophyll; peduncles 8.2(3.2-19.5) cm long, 4.9(1.5-10.0) mm in diameter; rachillae 19(4-50), 11.4(4.8-24.3) cm long, 2.7(0.7-6.0) mm in diameter, the surfaces without spiky, fibrous projections or ridges, drying brown or yellow-brown, without short, transverse ridges, not filiform and not narrowed between the flower pits; flower pits spirally arranged, glabrous internally; proximal lips with a central notch before anthesis, often the two sides of the notch overlapping, not recurved after anthesis, not hood-shaped; proximal and distal lips drying the same color as the rachillae, not joined to form a raised cupule, the proximal lip margins overlapping the distal lip margins; distal lips well-developed; staminate and pistillate petals not emergent, not valvate throughout; staminate flowers deciduous after anthesis; stamens 6; thecae diverging at anthesis, inserted directly onto the apiculate filament apices; anthers not short and curled at anthesis, usually elongate, spiraled and twisted or sometimes remaining straight; nonfertilized pistillate flowers deciduous after anthesis; staminodial tubes lobed at the apex, the lobes spreading at anthesis, acuminate, those of non-fertilized pistillate flowers not projecting and persistent after anthesis; fruits 11.8(6.9-18.2) mm long, 9.0(5.5-13.0) mm in diameter, apices not conical, the surfaces not splitting at maturity, without fibers emerging, not bumpy, not apiculate; locular epidermis without operculum, smooth, without pores. (Henderson, A.J. (2011) A revision of Geonoma. Phytotaxa 17: 1-271.)B

Use Record

  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: Construcción. Hoja. Techado de viviendas, se pone en las goteras, puntos por donde el agua escurre. (Macía, M.J. 2004: Multiplicity in palm uses by the Huaorani of Amazonian Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousTacanaBolivia
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: El tallo se utiliza como lanza para cazar "guantas" Agouti paca, en sus madrigueras. El ápice de las hojas cortadas se utiliza como colorante negro para pintarse los dientes. (Cerón, C.E. 1995: Etnobiología de los Cofanes de Dureno, provincia de Sucumbíos, Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    CulturalPersonal adornmentEntire leafIndigenousCofánEcuador
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemIndigenousCofánEcuador
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: Eventualmente se usan sus hojas para techado de casas rústicas, al igual que la "jatata" (G. deversa) y sus tallos para arcos y flechas. (Moreno Suárez, L., and O.I. Moreno Suárez 2006: Colecciones de las palmeras de Bolivia)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafNot identifiedN/ABolivia
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemNot identifiedN/ABolivia
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: Geonoma maxima (A. Poit.) Kunth Vernacular name: Omawe (adult). Vouchers: Macía et al. #483; Yanez, Macía et al. #2035. Uses. CO: Leaves are used for thatch. CU: The stem is used to make personal war spears for their dances at traditional feasts and rituals. D: Combs are made from thin strips of the stem. E: The mesocarp is occasionally eaten. HF: The stem is used to make improvised hunting spears. (Macía, M.J. 2004: Multiplicity in palm uses by the Huaorani of Amazonian Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    Human FoodFoodFruitsIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    CulturalRitualStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    Utensils and ToolsDomesticStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth var. chelidonura (Spruce) A.J.Hend. Español: Palmiche, Ponilla Usos: Construcción — Las hojas son utilizadas en la construcción de los techos para las viviendas; se utiliza el tallo para la fabricación de cercas. Herramientas y utensilios — Una persona dice que los frutos sirven como las bolas adentro del sonajero para niños. Alimenticio — Ek fruto es comestible, pero este uso no es muy común. Comunidad: 1, 7, 13–16, 19, 21, 23–27. Voucher: H. Balslev 7458. (Balslev, H., C. Grandez, et al. 2008: Useful palms (Arecaceae) near Iquitos, Peruvian Amazon)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Human FoodFoodFruitsNot identifiedN/APeru
    EnvironmentalFencesStemNot identifiedN/APeru
    CulturalRecreationalFruitsNot identifiedN/APeru
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafNot identifiedN/APeru
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: Lanza. Tallo. (Cerón, C.E., A. Payaguaje, D. Payaguaje et al. 2005: Etnobotánica Secoya)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemIndigenousSecoyaEcuador
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: Las hojas son utilizadas para techar las viviendas. Los cogollos quemados, cocinados y filtrados se utilizan para extracción de sal vegetal que es mezclada con el ambil (pasta de tabaco). (Galeano, G. 1992: Las palmas de la región de Araracuara)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafNot identifiedN/AColombia
    CulturalRecreationalPalm heartNot identifiedN/AColombia
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: Los frutos comen las pavas negras, rojas, tucanetas, trompeteros y paujiles. El tallo se usa como palanca de canoas. El tallo se usa como punta o lanza o chuzos para matar sajinos. Los tallos se usan como largueros en la construcción de ranchos temporales. Las hojas se usa para techar viviendas. (Cerón, C.E., and C.G. Montalvo 1998: Etnobotánica de los Huaorani de Quehueiri-Ono, Napo-Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    ConstructionTransportationStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    Animal FoodWildlife attractantFruitsIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: Los tallos fueron antes usados para los arcos. (Moraes, M. 1991: Contribución al estudio del ciclo biológico de la palma Copernicia alba en un área ganadera (Espíritu, Beni, Bolivia))
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemNot identifiedN/ABolivia
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: También forran el capillejo con hojas de la palmera palmiche. (...). Arcos de muchacos. Afilar muela de majás. (Romanoff, S., D. Manquid, F. Shoque, and D.W. Fleck 2004: La vida tradicional de los Matsés)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Utensils and ToolsLabour toolsNot specifiedIndigenousMatsésPeru
    CulturalRecreationalStemIndigenousMatsésPeru
    Utensils and ToolsDomesticEntire leafIndigenousMatsésPeru
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: Thatch. (Shepard, G.H., D.W. Yu, M. Lizarralde, et al. 2001: Rain forest habitat classification among the Matsigenka of the Peruvian Amazon)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    ConstructionThatchEntire leafIndigenousMatsigenkaPeru
  • Geonoma maxima (Poit.) Kunth: Used to make improvised hunting and war spears. (Borchsenius F., Borgtoft-Pedersen H. and Baslev H. 1998. Manual to the Palms of Ecuador. AAU Reports 37. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Aarhus, Denmark in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Catalica del Ecuador)
    Use CategoryUse Sub CategoryPlant PartHuman GroupEthnic GroupCountry
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemIndigenousSionaEcuador
    Utensils and ToolsHunting and fishingStemIndigenousHuaoraniEcuador

Bibliography

    A. World Checklist of Arecaceae
    B. Henderson, A.J. (2011) A revision of Geonoma. Phytotaxa 17: 1-271.