Bactris fissifrons Mart.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Arecaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Bactris fissifrons Mart.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Amazonas: Rio Japurá, s.d., C. Martius s.n. (holotype, M; F neg. 18612).

  • Synonyms

    Bactris aristata Mart., Pyrenoglyphis aristata (Mart.) Burret, Bactris fissifrons var. robusta Trail

  • Description

    Species Description - Stems cespitose, forming small clumps of up to 10 or more stems, 1.7-3 m tall, 1-3 cm diam. Leaves 412; leaf spines somewhat clustered, black or dark brown, terete, to 4 cm long, moderate on lateral surfaces of sheath, dense on adaxial surfaces of petiole, usually absent from rachis; sheath 22-50 cm long; ocrea to 15 cm long, entire and persistent; petiole 2844 cm long; rachis 0.4-1.1 m long; pinnae 2-3(-24) per side, irregularly arranged in clusters or almost regularly arranged, spreading in the same or slightly different planes, linear-lanceolate, with long, filamentous apex, the basal and apical pinnae usually much wider than the others and widely separated, with small spines on margins, with prominent veins adaxially; middle pinnae 33-58 × 2.5-10 cm. Inflorescences interfoliar; peduncle 10-25 cm long, recurved, not spiny; prophyll 14-23 cm long; peduncular bract 2235 cm long, striate abaxially, sparsely to moderately covered with black spines to 1.5 cm long; rachis 0-3.5 cm long; rachillae 2-5(-7), 12-17 cm long, to 5 mm diam, in fruit; triads irregularly arranged among paired or solitary staminate flowers, the bracteoles prominent; staminate flowers 5.5-7.5 mm long, deciduous; sepal lobes 1.5-3 mm long; petals 5.5-6.5 mm long; stamens 6; pistillode absent; pistillate flowers to 7.5 mm long; calyx tubular, 3-5 mm long; corolla tubular, 3-5.5 mm long, minutely spinulose; fruits 2-3 × 1.5-2 cm, obovoid or pyriform, elongate-rostrate, yellowish, becoming purple-black, glabrous or minutely spinulose at apex; mesocarp juicy; endocarp obovoid, the sterile pores displaced longitudinally, the fertile pore displaced latitudinally; endocarp fibers free, numerous, with juice sacs attached; fruiting perianth with irregularly lobed calyx and irregularly lobed, glabrous or minutely spinulose corolla, without staminodial ring.

  • Discussion

    Bactris fissifrons is diagnosed by its 2-5(-7), 13-15 cm long, to 5 mm diameter rachillae, and obovoid, elongate-rostrate, yellowish fruits that become purple-black. On most specimens, the basal and apical pinnae are usually much wider than the others, and widely separated from them. As noted by Burret (1933-1934), both Trail (1877) and Drude (1881) reported that B. aristata (here treated as a synonym of B. fissifrons) had a staminodial ring. However, Trail based this on a specimen (Trail 855/LXVII) that is actually a variant of B. major. Drude followed Trail’s mistake. The type of B. aristata at M has no fruits, but the locality, leaves, and description match B. fissifrons. For similarities with B. corossilla see discussion under that species.

    Two specimens, not included above (Peru. Pasco: Prov. Oxapampa, Palcazu Valley, between Iscozacin and Villa America, 10° 12' S, 75° 13' W, 300 m, D. Smith 3860 (MO); Prov. Oxapampa, Palcazu Valley, Iscozacin, 10° 12’ S, 75° 15' W, 380 m, 10 Jan 1984, R. Foster et al. 7859 (MO, NY)) were previously identified as Bactris maraja var. juruensis by Henderson (1995). These somewhat resemble B. fissifrons, but are from outside the geographic range of that species, and are somewhat different in their leaves and fruits. More collections are needed to determine the species to which these belong.

  • Common Names

    chontilla, cubarro, sitanó, yachoro, chontilla del selva, huati-wí, ca-ujico

  • Objects

    Specimen - 01170331, A. J. Henderson 2033, Bactris fissifrons Mart., Arecaceae (36.0), Magnoliophyta; South America, Peru

  • Distribution

    Western Amazon region in Colombia (Amazonas, Putumayo, Vaupes), Ecuador (Napo, Sucumbios), Peru (Loreto) and Brazil (western Amazonas) (Fig. 28A); lowland forest in well drained areas, especially on river terraces, at 100-265 m elevation.

    Colombia South America| Amazonas Colombia South America| Putumayo Colombia South America| Vaupés Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Sucumbíos Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|