Aiphanes hirsuta subsp. kalbreyeri (Burret) Borchs. & R.Bernal, Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 70: 63 (1996)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Colombia present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Known from the northeastern slopes of the Colombian Cordillera Central (type locality), and the western slopes of Cordillera Occidental between 1300 and 2000 m, often left over on pasture. (Borchsenius, F. and Bernal, R. 1996. Aiphanes (Palmae). Flora Neotropica 70. pp 1-95)A

Discussion

  • This subspecies includes plants with linear pinnae held more or less in one plane, densely armed inflorescences with relatively few, long, slender rachillae, and small spinulose fruits with a globose endocarp. In the northern part of Cordillera Central it co-occurs with subsp. hirsuta, and the two give the impression of being distinct in this area. In Cordillera Occidental it occurs at higher altitudes than subsp. hirsuta. To the south, leaves and inflorescences show a gradual transition to subsp. intermedia, found in Choco and Valle. The subspecies is well characterized morphologically, but its pollen display a surprising variation in exine ornamentation. The neotype collected in Cordillera Central (Bernal & Tobon 1393) has pollen with rugu-late exine; pollen of Bernal et al. 958, collected in Cordillera Occidental, have perforate exine with numerous long, supratectal spines. (Borchsenius, F. and Bernal, R. 1996. Aiphanes (Palmae). Flora Neotropica 70. pp 1-95)A

Common Name

  • Cirquí (Antioquia). (Borchsenius, F. and Bernal, R. 1996. Aiphanes (Palmae). Flora Neotropica 70. pp 1-95)A

Description

  • Stems up to 12, each 4-10 m tall, 5-8 cm diam., densely armed with black, to 25 cm long spines. Leaves 4-6; sheath 70-90 cm long, densely armed; petiole 14-32 cm long, densely armed with black spines, to 7 cm long; rachis 125-194 cm long, yellow to brown spinulose, abaxially with few black spines, pinnae 30-40 per side, in lax groups of 3-9, nearly in one plane, linear, 10-14 times as long as wide, oblique to tabulate praemorse at apex, glabrous adax-ially, with short spinules abaxially; middle pinnae 48-65 x 3.5-5 cm. Peduncle 21-107 cm long, ca. 10 mm in diam. at junction with rachis, densely armed with brown, to 2 cm long spines; rachis 20-44 cm long, densely covered with crimped, to 1.5 cm long spines, becoming shorter toward apex; rachillae 22-38; basal rachillae 40-53 cm long, with an up to 10 cm long basal flowerless part, 2-3 mm diam. in the androgynous part, covered between the flower groups with 0.5-1 cm long, crimped, black spines, distally very slender. Staminate flowers violet to white, with yellow anthers, 2.5-3 mm long; anthers linear, 0.9-1.2 x 0.5-0.7 mm. Pistillate flowers violet, 5-6 mm long; sepals rounded; petals acuminate; pistil sparsely covered with minute, applanate spinules. Fruit globose, 11-13 mm diam.; epicarp with minute, black spinules; endocarp 10-12 mm diam., with numerous shallow to deep pits, especially at apex. (Borchsenius, F. and Bernal, R. 1996. Aiphanes (Palmae). Flora Neotropica 70. pp 1-95)A

Materials Examined

  • COLOMBIA. ANTIOQUIA: Mun. de Frontino, Murrí, rd. Nutibara-La Blanquita, 1900-1950 m, 3 Jan 1982 (fl, fern fl, imm fr), Galeano & Bernal 461 (COL, HUA), 462 (COL); Mun. de Urrao, quebrada La Agudelo, a tributary to Río Calles, 1300-1400 m, 14 Jun 1982, Bernal & Galeano 330 (COL, HUA). RISARALDA: Pueblo Rico, Rio Taiba, 1350 m, 13 Mar 1986 (fl, fem fl, imm fr), Bernal et al. 958 (COL, FTG). (Borchsenius, F. and Bernal, R. 1996. Aiphanes (Palmae). Flora Neotropica 70. pp 1-95)A

Bibliography

    A. Borchsenius, F. and Bernal, R. 1996. Aiphanes (Palmae). Flora Neotropica 70. pp 1-95
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae