Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm. 2: 87 (1824)

Content

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)

Brazil West-Central present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)C

Widespread in tropical America, from Mexico to Bolivia, below 1000 m elevation, often in coastal areas. (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)A

From 8°45'-23°01'S and 35°06'-43°28'W in the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil at 105(0-700) m elevation, usually near the sea in restinga or scrub forest (Henderson, A. 2011: A revision of Desmoncus (Arecaceae). – Phytotaxa 35: 1-88)B

Discussion

Easily recognised by its straight leaf rachis spines and unarmed cirrhus. Otherwise a highly variable species in need of thorough revision. (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)A
Taxonomic notes:-Both Wessels Boer (1965) and Henderson et al. (1995) considered Desmoncus orthacanthos to be much more widespread. This was based on a misinterpretation, and it is here considered to be confined to the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil (see notes under Desmoncus horridus). Desmoncus orthacanthos has an unique inflorescence structure with each rachilla with an irregular, adnate bracteole that appears displaced distally onto the rachilla (Fig. 2D). Pinnae spines are also distinctive. All specimens have at least some pinnae with one or rarely two large spines right at the very base of the pinnae on the abaxial surface.
Subspecific variation:-There is no geographic disjunction, except for two outlying specimens from Pernambuco. There is geographical variation in this species. Regression shows there are significant (P <0.05) associations between latitude and four leaf and three inflorescence variables. Squared multiple R for the regression of petiole length on latitude is 0.19, rachis length 0.27, basal pinna length 0.29, basal pinna width 0.16, peduncular bract length 0.29, rachilla length 0.17, and fruit length 0.41. These variables decrease from north to south except for fruit length which increases from north to south. (Henderson, A. 2011: A revision of Desmoncus (Arecaceae). – Phytotaxa 35: 1-88)B

Description

Subcanopy reaching liana. Stems clustered, to 10 m long, ca. 2 cm i diameter, usually covered with persistent sheaths. Leaves 1.5-2 m long, the axis with numerous black, slender spines, distally often unarmed but with a number of pinnae modified into climbing hooks; pinnae to 25 on each side, more or less evenly spaced, narrowly elliptic, to 20 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. Inflorescence 30-40 cm long, with 20-50 branches. Fruits red, elongate, 1.5-2 cm long (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)A
Plants 2.6(1.2-4.0) m tall; stems 1.3(0.7-2.2) cm diameter, clustered. Leaf petioles 6.4(2.0-15.0) cm long; rachises 59.6(30.5-85.0) cm long, 4.6(2.9-6.8) mm wide, the spines usually >1 cm long, mostly adaxial or lateral, straight with briefly swollen bases; pinnae 9(6-14) per side of rachis, without long, filiform apices, without a beard of spines at the bases, without spinules or dense tomentum at the bases adaxially; basal pinna 14.3(7.6-25.0) cm long, 2.6(1.0-4.8) cm wide; cirri well-developed, with acanthophylls, without spines abaxially, with intermediate acanthophylls present (i.e., distalmost pair of pinnae reflexed as acanthophylls and with swollen bases and/or proximalmost acanthophylls like vestigial pinnae), without a wide gap between pinnae and acanthophylls. Inflorescences with the rachis angular, slightly twisted, thicker than the closely spaced and spirally arranged rachillae, each rachilla not adnate to the rachis and with an irregular bracteole adnate to the rachilla and appearing displaced distally onto the rachilla, with a poorly- to well-developed axillary pulvinus; peduncles 3.9(2.0-7.2) mm wide; peduncular bracts 26.4(19.0-39.0) cm long, broad, the surfaces ribbed, brown tomentose, rarely with long, straight or sinuous, briefly swollen-based, diagonally or vertically oriented spines, these flattened or triangular in cross-section, whitish-brown proximally, black or brown distally, with tomentose margins; rachillae 14(8-22), glabrous or scarcely tomentose initially; proximal rachillae 10.4(5.0-20.5) cm long, 0.8(0.3-1.2) mm wide; stamens 5-7; fruits 14.4(11.4-18.4) mm long, 10.9(8.4-15.2) mm wide, the surfaces uneven with numerous, subepidermal, short, often branching (Yshaped) fibers; fruiting corollas less than one quarter as long as fruits, splitting irregularly into 3 lobes, the lobes often splitting again; endocarps globose to obovoid with rounded or slightly peaked apices, the pores lateral.Plants 2.6(1.2-4.0) m tall; stems 1.3(0.7-2.2) cm diameter, clustered. Leaf petioles 6.4(2.0-15.0) cm long; rachises 59.6(30.5-85.0) cm long, 4.6(2.9-6.8) mm wide, the spines usually >1 cm long, mostly adaxial or lateral, straight with briefly swollen bases; pinnae 9(6-14) per side of rachis, without long, filiform apices, without a beard of spines at the bases, without spinules or dense tomentum at the bases adaxially; basal pinna 14.3(7.6-25.0) cm long, 2.6(1.0-4.8) cm wide; cirri well-developed, with acanthophylls, without spines abaxially, with intermediate acanthophylls present (i.e., distalmost pair of pinnae reflexed as acanthophylls and with swollen bases and/or proximalmost acanthophylls like vestigial pinnae), without a wide gap between pinnae and acanthophylls. Inflorescences with the rachis angular, slightly twisted, thicker than the closely spaced and spirally arranged rachillae, each rachilla not adnate to the rachis and with an irregular bracteole adnate to the rachilla and appearing displaced distally onto the rachilla, with a poorly- to well-developed axillary pulvinus; peduncles 3.9(2.0-7.2) mm wide; peduncular bracts 26.4(19.0-39.0) cm long, broad, the surfaces ribbed, brown tomentose, rarely with long, straight or sinuous, briefly swollen-based, diagonally or vertically oriented spines, these flattened or triangular in cross-section, whitish-brown proximally, black or brown distally, with tomentose margins; rachillae 14(8-22), glabrous or scarcely tomentose initially; proximal rachillae 10.4(5.0-20.5) cm long, 0.8(0.3-1.2) mm wide; stamens 5-7; fruits 14.4(11.4-18.4) mm long, 10.9(8.4-15.2) mm wide, the surfaces uneven with numerous, subepidermal, short, often branching (Yshaped) fibers; fruiting corollas less than one quarter as long as fruits, splitting irregularly into 3 lobes, the lobes often splitting again; endocarps globose to obovoid with rounded or slightly peaked apices, the pores lateral. (Henderson, A. 2011: A revision of Desmoncus (Arecaceae). – Phytotaxa 35: 1-88)B

Use Record

Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart.: Al tallo se le quitan las epinas y la corteza, luego se retuerce aplicando fuerzas contrarias en los extremos con el fin de entrecruzar sus fibras. Así se emplea para la construcción de canastos para carga, amarre de balsadas o lotes de madera en trozas para transporte acuático y elaboración de catangas o trampas para peces. Además, el jaibaná la utiliza para ahuyentar los espíritus que atormentan a sus pacientes, mediante la construcción de una maroma o cuerda que se instala en un árbol, encima de la mesa o latar, para invocar a los "jais" en las prácticas de curación. (Caballero, M.R. 1995: La etnobotánica en las comunidades negras e indígenas del delta del Río Patía)

Use Category	Use Sub Category	Plant Part	Human Group	Ethnic Group	Country
Medicinal and Veterinary	Cultural diseases and disorders	Stem	Indigenous	Not specified	Colombia
Utensils and Tools	Hunting and fishing	Stem	Not identified	N/A	Colombia
Utensils and Tools	Domestic	Stem	Not identified	N/A	Colombia
Utensils and Tools	Rope	Stem	Not identified	N/A	Colombia

Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart.: Alimento an. Fruto. Avi-uso. Fruto. Cesteria. Tallo. Leña. Tallo. (Cerón, C.E., and C. Montalvo 2000: Reserva Biológica Limoncocha. Formaciones vegetales, Diversidad y Etnobotánica.)

Use Category	Use Sub Category	Plant Part	Human Group	Ethnic Group	Country
Utensils and Tools	Domestic	Stem	Indigenous	Huaorani	Ecuador
Fuel	Firewood	Stem	Indigenous	Huaorani	Ecuador
Animal Food	Wildlife attractant	Fruits	Indigenous	Huaorani	Ecuador

Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart.: Artesanal. Tallo, semilla. (Cerón, C.E., A. Payaguaje, D. Payaguaje et al. 2005: Etnobotánica Secoya)
Use Category Use Sub Category Plant Part Human Group Ethnic Group Country
Other N/A Stem Indigenous Secoya Ecuador
Cultural Personal adornment Seeds Indigenous Secoya Ecuador

Use Category	Use Sub Category	Plant Part	Human Group	Ethnic Group	Country
Other	N/A	Stem	Indigenous	Secoya	Ecuador
Cultural	Personal adornment	Seeds	Indigenous	Secoya	Ecuador

Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart.: Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart. Español: Vara-casha Usos: Medicinal y cosmético — Una persona reporta que los frutos sirven contra la hepatitis. Herramientas y utensilios — El tallo es empleado en la fabricación de canastos, esteras y asientos; el tallo también sirve como tendedero para la ropa; en algunos casos se utilizan los frutos como cebo para la pesca. Comunidad: 5–9, 12–14, 16–20, 23–27. Voucher: sin muestra colectada. (Balslev, H., C. Grandez, et al. 2008: Useful palms (Arecaceae) near Iquitos, Peruvian Amazon)

Use Category	Use Sub Category	Plant Part	Human Group	Ethnic Group	Country
Medicinal and Veterinary	Digestive system	Fruits	Not identified	N/A	Peru
Animal Food	Fish bait	Fruits	Not identified	N/A	Peru
Utensils and Tools	Domestic	Stem	Not identified	N/A	Peru

Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart.: Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart. Vernacular name: Yeyerucaime. Voucher: Macía et al. #2469. Uses. D: The stem is used as a frame for baskets. HF: The flexible stem is used as a frame for fishing nets. (Macía, M.J. 2004: Multiplicity in palm uses by the Huaorani of Amazonian Ecuador)
Use Category Use Sub Category Plant Part Human Group Ethnic Group Country
Utensils and Tools Domestic Stem Indigenous Huaorani Ecuador
Utensils and Tools Hunting and fishing Stem Indigenous Huaorani Ecuador

Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart.: El tallo de esta palma en ocasiones es usado para hacer cernidores y canastos. Las vainas que rodean el tallo son desprendidas para luego ser cortadas en bandas largas que son utilizados en tejidos. (Balslev, H., M. Rios, G. Quezada and B. Nantipa 1997: Palmas útiles en la cordillera de los Huacamayos)

Use Category	Use Sub Category	Plant Part	Human Group	Ethnic Group	Country
Cultural	Cloth and accessories	Leaf sheath	Indigenous	Quichua	Ecuador
Utensils and Tools	Domestic	Stem	Indigenous	Quichua	Ecuador
Cultural	Cloth and accessories	Stem	Indigenous	Quichua	Ecuador

Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart.: Los frutos comen los tucanes y pájaros pequeños conocidos en idioma huaorani como: congangas, pegomes. El tallo se usa como caña de pescar. El tallo raspado se usa como virusa para taco de la escopeta. El tallo se usa para hacer la base de los cestos. (Cerón, C.E., and C.G. Montalvo 1998: Etnobotánica de los Huaorani de Quehueiri-Ono, Napo-Ecuador)

Use Category	Use Sub Category	Plant Part	Human Group	Ethnic Group	Country
Utensils and Tools	Hunting and fishing	Stem	Indigenous	Huaorani	Ecuador
Animal Food	Wildlife attractant	Fruits	Indigenous	Huaorani	Ecuador
Utensils and Tools	Domestic	Stem	Indigenous	Huaorani	Ecuador

Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart.: Los tallos de matamba son muy resistentes, son ocasionalmente utilizados como sogas, y para la fabricación de artículos de cestería. (Galeano, G., R. Bernal 1987: Palmas del Departamento de Antioquia, Región de Antioquia, Región Occidental)
Use Category Use Sub Category Plant Part Human Group Ethnic Group Country
Utensils and Tools Domestic Stem Not identified N/A Colombia
Utensils and Tools Rope Stem Not identified N/A Colombia
Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart.: Medicinal (Desmoncus spp.). (...). (...), use a decotion of its roots to treat stomach pains. (Balslev, H., and A. Barfod 1987: Ecuadorean palms- an overview)
Use Category Use Sub Category Plant Part Human Group Ethnic Group Country
Medicinal and Veterinary Digestive system Root Indigenous Siona Ecuador
Desmoncus orthacanthos Mart.: Pesca. Del tallo se sacan las hojas y las espinas para elaborar una argolla de la cual se sujetan, atándolas, las redes de pesca (Yeye Diyintai) (Mondragón, M.L., and R. Smith 1997: Bete Quiwiguimamo. Salvando el bosque para vivir sano)
Use Category Use Sub Category Plant Part Human Group Ethnic Group Country
Utensils and Tools Hunting and fishing Stem Indigenous Huaorani Ecuador
Desmoncus horridus Splitg. ex Mart.: El estípite descortezado se usa para la construcción de casas, y la corteza especialmente para amarres y para la fabricación de balay y canastos. (La Rotta, C. 1983: Observaciones etnobotánicas sobre algunas especies utilizadas por la comunidad indígena Andoque (Amazonas, Colombia) (as Desmoncus horridus Splitg. ex Mart.))

Use Category	Use Sub Category	Plant Part	Human Group	Ethnic Group	Country
Utensils and Tools	Domestic	Stem	Not identified	N/A	Colombia
Utensils and Tools	Rope	Stem	Not identified	N/A	Colombia

Use Category	Use Sub Category	Plant Part	Human Group	Ethnic Group	Country
Medicinal and Veterinary	Digestive system	Root	Indigenous	Siona	Ecuador

Bibliography

A. 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

B. Henderson, A. 2011: A revision of Desmoncus (Arecaceae). – Phytotaxa 35: 1-88

C. World Checklist of Arecaceae

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