Bactris chaveziae A.J.Hend.

  • Authority

    Henderson, A. 2000. (Palmae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 79: 1-181. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Arecaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Bactris chaveziae A.J.Hend.

  • Type

    Type. Peru. Madre de Dios: Pakitza, right bank of Río Manu, 11° 53' S, 71° 15' W, 400 m, 7 Nov 1990, F. Chavez 704 (holotype, CUZ; isotype, NY).

  • Synonyms

    Bactris sigmoidea Burret, Bactris concinna var. sigmoidea A.J.Hend.

  • Description

    Species Description - Stems cespitose, 0.7-4 m tall, 1.5-2 cm diam. Leaves 6-10; leaf spines scattered, terete, yellowish brown, darker at base and apex, to 12 cm long, on petiole and rachis; sheath 12-15 cm long, fibrous on margins; ocrea to 12 cm long; petiole 70-80 cm long; rachis 50-76 cm long; pinnae 8-19 per side, linear-lanceolate or sigmoid, irregularly arranged in clusters, spreading in different planes, with a metallic sheen on drying; middle pinnae 21-35 × 2.5-5 cm (apical pinna usually wider than the others). Inflorescences interfoliar; peduncle to 15 cm long, straight, not spiny; prophyll not seen; peduncular bract to 25 cm long, densely covered with spreading, yellowish brown spines to 1 cm long; rachis absent; rachilla 1-2, to 5 cm long, at anthesis glabrous; triads regularly arranged; staminate flowers 4-6 mm long; sepal lobes 1 mm long; petals 4-6 mm long; stamens 6; pistillode absent; pistillate flowers 2-3 mm long; calyx tubular, to 2 mm long; corolla tubular, 2-3 mm long; staminodial ring obscure, adnate to corolla, seldom free; fruits 2-3.5 × 1-2 cm, congested on rachillae, ellipsoid, purple-black, brown-tomentose; mesocarp juicy; endocarp ellipsoid, the sterile pores displaced longitudinally, the fertile pore displaced latitudinally; endocarp fibers free, numerous, with juice sacs attached; fruiting perianth with small, lobed calyx and much longer, scarcely lobed corolla, with staminodial ring.

  • Discussion

    Bactris chaveziae is diagnosed by its linear-lanceolate or sigmoid pinnae, irregularly arranged in clusters; staminodial ring, and purple-black fruits. Henderson (1995) recognized three varieties of Bactris concinna, of which this was one (B. concinna var. sigmoidea). These are given specific rank here, because there appear to be consistent differences among the three, and few, if any, intermediates. A new name has been given to this taxon because B. sigmoidea Burret already exists.

  • Common Names

    Chonta

  • Objects

    Specimen - 00381136, F. Chávez 704, Bactris chaveziae A.J.Hend., Arecaceae (36.0), Magnoliophyta, isotype; South America, Peru, Madre de Dios

    Pending, A. J. Henderson 1658, Bactris chaveziae A.J.Hend., Arecaceae (36.0), Magnoliophyta; South America, Brazil, Acre

    Pending, A. J. Henderson 1672, Bactris chaveziae A.J.Hend., Arecaceae (36.0), Magnoliophyta; South America, Brazil, Acre

  • Distribution

    Peru (Cusco, Madre de Dios, Pasco), Brazil (Acre), and Bolivia (La Paz, Santa Cruz) (Fig. 18A); lowland rain forest on terra firme, at 280-500 m elevation.

    Peru South America| Cusco Peru South America| Madre de Dios Peru South America| Pasco Peru South America| Acre Brazil South America| La Paz Bolivia South America| Santa Cruz Bolivia South America|