Bactris rhaphidacantha
| Bactris rhaphidacantha | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Bactris |
| Species: | B. rhaphidacantha |
| Binomial name | |
| Bactris rhaphidacantha | |
Bactris rhaphidacantha is a species of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae. It is a shrub or palm tree with pinnate leaves, branching inflorescences, and orange-red fruits. The species is native to South America, and was described in 1965.
Taxonomy
The species was described by Jan Gerard Wessels Boer in 1965.[1]
Distribution
Bactris rhaphidacantha is native to the wet tropical biome of northern Brazil (Amapá), French Guiana, and Suriname.[2] It grows at elevations of 100–550 metres (330–1,800 ft), mostly on well-drained slopes.[3]
Description
Bactris rhaphidacantha is a subshrub, shrub,[2] or palm tree.[4] The stems are 0.3–1.5 metres (0.98–4.92 ft) long, and 5–8 centimetres (2.0–3.1 in) wide.[3] The stems can be solitary, or have up to three stems.[3] The stems lack prickles, or have a few spines between the leaf attachment points.[3]
The plant has eight to sixteen leaves, which form a funnel-shaped crown. The leaf stem is 0.5–1.5 metres (1.6–4.9 ft) long.[3] The leaves are pinnate. There are twenty-five to fifty-four pairs of pinnae, which are regularly arranged.[4]
The inflorescences are branching,[4] and have curved, 10–20 centimetres (3.9–7.9 in) long stems. The male flowers are around 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long, and have sepal lobes that are around 1.5 millimetres (0.059 in) long. The male flowers have four to seven stamens, and petals that are around 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long.[3]
The female flowers are up to 3 millimetres (0.12 in) long. The calyx is cup-shaped, and 1.5–3 millimetres (0.059–0.118 in) long. The corolla is cup-shaped and 2–3 millimetres (0.079–0.118 in) long.[3]
The fruits are 1–1.2 centimetres (0.39–0.47 in) wide, obovoid, orange-red, and have short black spines. The mesocarp is starchy, and the endocarp is turbinate.[3]
Nomenclature
In Portuguese, the species is known as marajá.[4]
References
- ↑ "Bactris rhaphidacantha Wess.Boer". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens.
- 1 2 "Bactris rhaphidacantha". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Bactris rhaphidacantha Wess.Boer". WorldFloraOnline.org. World Flora Online. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Bactris rhaphidacantha Wess.Boer". Reflora.jbrj.gov.br. Reflora. Retrieved 22 July 2026.