Butia microspadix

Butia microspadix is a very small species of grass-like Butia palm usually with an underground trunk; native to the states of Paraná and São Paulo in Brazil.

Butia microspadix
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Butia
Species:
B. microspadix
Binomial name
Butia microspadix
Burret [1930]
Synonyms[1]
  • Syagrus hatschbachii Glassman [1967][2]

It has been given the common name dwarf woolly jelly palm in English.[3] It is locally known as butiazinho-do-campo[4] or just butiazinho[5] in Portuguese. The species epithet is derived from ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós), meaning 'small', and σπάδῑξ (spā́dīx), originally meaning 'palm frond' but referring to the inflorescence.[1]

Taxonomy

It was first described in Berlin in 1930 by Max Burret on the basis of two specimens collected in the 19th century in Brazil; one collected by Friedrich Sellow[a] in São Paulo, the other by the cartographer Joseph Keller in Paraná. He also cited another specimen collected by the entomologist Hermann Luederwaldt to the south of São Paulo (no. 12267), which he mentioned was extremely close to the species as he described it.[6][7] These specimens were all believed to be destroyed in 1943 during World War II by a fire caused by allied bombing.[8][9] The fire also destroyed the records of where duplicates had been sent.[9]

In 1967 Sidney Fredrick Glassman described Syagrus hatschbachii as a new species from specimens collected by G. Hatschbach[b] in Paraná State in 1961, but after publishing his article, he discovered an old specimen from Luederwaldt (no. 12267) in the herbarium of São Paulo which had been determined as Butia microspadix by Burret.[2][8][10][11] In 1968 he published his opinion that, although it appeared to be the same as the specimens of Syagrus hatschbachii he had, as Luederwaldt's specimen was of an immature plant he thus could not be certain it was the same, and as he found the specimen did not match Burret's description to his "satisfaction", thus he considered Burret's Butia microspadix to be a species incerta.[8] He repeated this in 1970,[8] but in 1979, after having studied additional specimens, he changed his mind and concluded that these two taxa were indeed the same.[10]

Description

Butia microspadix is usually acaulescent, but may sometimes, rarely, develop a tiny trunk of up to 20-30cm,[12][13][14] and 10cm diameter.[1] It rarely exceeds 60cm in total height including the leaves,[12] growing to a maximum height of 90cm.[13] It is always solitary-trunked.[14] It is very slow growing.[12] It very much resembles a tuft of grass.[12][15]

The 3-10 leaves are pinnate and coloured greyish-green.[1] The 13-20cm long leaf petiole is spineless, bearing only some fibres along the margins at the base.[1][10][14] The petiole is 0.4-0.6cm wide and flat on top but rounded elsewhere.[1] The rachis is 30–74cm in length.[14] The 15-29 pinnae (leaflets) on each side of the leaf rachis are linear with an acuminate apex and inserted at a regular distance on the same plane per side of the leaf, so that each pair of pinnae forms a neat 'V'-shape. These pinnae are 13-40cm long and 0.3-0.8cm wide in the middle of the rachis.[1]

Similarly to B. eriospatha, it has woody spathes (in which the young inflorescence is developing) with the outside surface densely covered in a furry layer of lanate (woolly) tomentose indumentum;[1][14] these differ from the spathes of that species by the hairs being shorter and darker purplish-brown. The spathe is 33–40cm in length, with an enlarged part 10-18cm long and 3.5-4.5cm wide.[1]

The inflorescence is branched and up to 17cm long.[13][14] The inflorescence has a 27-32cm peduncle and a lanceolate prophyll 7-14.5cm long. The rachis of the inflorescence is 1-7.5cm long and has 3-18 rachillae (branches) which are 6-12cm long. The flowers are coloured yellow.[1] The staminate (male) flowers are 5-7mm in length; the pistillate (female) flowers are 4–5mm in length.[1][14]

The shape of the fruit is ellipsoid (like an elongated acorn with a small cap/base, or a rugby ball with one end flat); but shape of the nut is globose (round).[14] The fruit are 1.5-2cm long by 1-2cm wide, generally a bit longer than wide, with a juicy flesh.[1][13] The fruit have been described as coloured brown,[13] or, when ripe, violet or greenish-yellow, and covered in a rusty-coloured fur. The nut is hard, 1.1-1.5cm in diameter, has 1-2 seeds within, and contains a homogeneous endosperm.[1]

Similar species

It is easily told apart from other miniature species of Butia by its densely furry spathes, with the hairs being woolly and persistent (not easily rubbed off).[1] With its petioles lacking teeth along the margin it is most similar to B. archeri according to Glassman in 1979, although a number of other dwarf species lacking teeth have been discovered since then.[10]

It grows in the same region as the extremely rare B. pubispatha, another dwarf, grass-like species described as a new species in 2010, which also has petioles lacking teeth and furry spathes, but this species has a spathe with shorter, more pubescent hairs which can be rubbed off, and is also somewhat robuster and larger in size. B. pubispatha also grows much faster.[1][16]

B. eriospatha can also be found growing in this region.[16]

Distribution

The species is mostly restricted to eastern highlands of the state of Paraná, with small populations in the south of São Paulo state.[1][5][14][16] As of 2017, it has been recorded from only ten localities. Within Paraná it occurs in the municipalities of Antônio Olinto, Carambeí, Jaguariaíva, Palmeira, Ponta Grossa, Sengés and Tibagi. Within São Paulo it occurs in the municipalities of Paranapanema and Itararé.[16] Within the extent of occurrence, an area of approximately 6000km2, it is calculated to occupy some 1300km2 (the area of occupancy), giving it an abundance of 21%, which is reasonably low compared to other species of Butia.[16]

The specimen Luederwaldt no. 12267 Burret cited in 1930 was collected, according to him, in Raiz da Serra (in modern Cubatão), São Paulo, but the no. 12267 specimen Glassman had found in the late 1960s in the herbarium of São Paulo was labelled as being collected in Rio Grande do Sul, thus Glassman concluded that the two specimens might not be the same, despite bearing the same collection numbers. Because of this, Glassman concluded that Butia microspadix was native to the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, and possibly São Paulo if one accepted Burret's description (he apparently didn't read Burret's statement that the Sellow collection was also likely made in São Paulo).[7][8][10]

Because of the belief that this species was found in Rio Grande do Sul, a number of sources also state that it (probably) occurs in Santa Catarina state, which lies between Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, although it has never been seen there.[3][5]

In 2014, however, Soares et al. and a curator of the São Paulo herbarium, Maria Mamede, pointed out that Luederwaldt had never been to Rio Grande do Sul, and spent his time in Brazil exclusively collecting in the vicinity of São Paulo, which meant that the specimen had simply been mislabelled.[17]

Habitat

It is found in dry grasslands or steppes known as campos gerais,[1][5][17] where its unassuming habitus and thin leaflets makes it difficult to find camouflaged amongst the grass.[12] It may also sometimes be found growing on rocky outcrops.[5]

It grows in full sun and in a red clay soil amongst thick campos vegetation. It shares its range and habitat with another dwarf palm; Allagoptera leucocalyx. It grows in an area that often sees heavy downpours (in the summer), and moderate frosts in winter.[12] It has been recorded growing at altitudes of 790-920m.[18]

Its habitat is severely fragmented.[16]

Ecology

It fruits in the summer.[5] The fruits were found in abundance in the faeces of the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous, 27% of total mass) and the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus, 28% of total mass).[19]

Bees visiting the flowers in Vila Velha State Park in Ponta Grossa, Paraná, include Ceratalictus clonius, Ceratalictus stigon, Ceratalictus sp. and Dialictus spp.. The Dialictus spp. were only found on Butia microspadix.[20]

Uses

It is collected by palm enthusiasts as an ornamental plant and seed has sometimes been available from specialist retailers since at least 2015, if not earlier.[13][15] It is said to be very ornamental.[1] It is difficult to germinate, the seeds having low viability and taking more than 6 months to germinate.[5] It is very slow-growing. USDA hardiness zone 9b.[13] It is advised to plant the palms in full sunlight. It is said to take -5°C, but should be protected at 0°C in the Netherlands.[21]

Conservation

In 1979 Glassman claimed that the species appeared to be quite abundant in Paraná, apparently based on comments by Hatschbach.[10]

In 1995 the Secretaria de Estado do Meio Ambiente of the state of Paraná, in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (a German foreign development agency), rated the species as 'rare' in the state of Paraná. In 2008 the species was rated as 'data deficient' by the Ministério do Meio Ambiente of the federal government. In 2012 the Centro Nacional de Conservação da Flora rated the conservation status for Brazil as 'vulnerable', primarily due to habitat loss due to the pressure of agricultural expansion (although the actual extent of loss was yet unclear at the time).[5] In a 2017 dissertation by Marcelo Piske Eslabão the species is said to ought to be considered 'vulnerable' as the IUCN categories B1ab (i, ii, iii) and B2ab (i, ii, iii) applied; this means that the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy (see distribution above) were below a certain threshold, and that according to Eslabão the population was in decline.[16]

Its habitat is severely fragmented.[16] According to Alberto Leonardo Barkema, a Brazilian expert in palm horticulture, in 2009, agriculture (soya, wheat, cattle pasture) has so decimated the remaining habitat, that this palm can usually only be found in the verges of natural vegetation in the berm along the edges of roads. According to him it is being out-competed in such areas by more vigorous invasive species, notably grasses such as Pennisetum purpureum and those of the genus Brachiaria, as well as Eucalyptus and Pinus elliottii.[22] Nigel Kembrey, an English specialist in Butia horticulture, seconds this, calling it "extremely rare and threatened".[12]

It is one of the most protected Butia species, being present in at least six conservation areas:[16] the Nascentes do Paranapanema State Park,[16] Vila Velha State Park,[5][16] Cerrado State Park,[16] Guartelá State Park,[16] and Parque Ibiti.[19] At Represa Alagados in Ponta Grossa, Paraná, it also grows on the grounds of a hydroelectric facility.[1]

Hybrids

In horticulture, F1 and even F2 hybrids have been created with Butia eriospatha.[15]

Notes
a b Sometimes misspelled in works by Glassman.

References
  1. Soares, Kelen Pureza (2015). "Le genre Butia". Principes (in French). 1: 12–57. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  2. IPNI Plant Name Details. International Plant Names Index. 31. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The Harvard University Herbaria, and the Australian National Herbarium. 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  3. "Butia microspadix Species Information". Complete list of all the world's palm tree species. Trebrown Nurseries. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  4. Pereira, Janaina Silva Rossi; Parolin, Mauro; Monteiro, Mayara dos Reis; Caxambu, Marcelo Galeazzi; Rasbold, Giliane Géssica (2013). "Caracterização Morfológica dos Fitólitos de Butia microspadix Burret (Arecaceae)". Revista de Ciências Ambientais. 7 (1): 59–67. ISSN 1981-8858. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  5. Prieto, Pablo Viany (2 May 2012). "Centro Nacional de Conservação da Flora - CNCFlora" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  6. IPNI Plant Name Details. International Plant Names Index. 10. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The Harvard University Herbaria, and the Australian National Herbarium. 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  7. Burret, Karl Ewald Maximilian (1930). "Butia microspadix Burret nov. spec. (Palmae)" (PDF). Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem (in German and Latin). 10: 1050. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  8. Glassman, Sidney Fredrick (1970). "A conspectus of the palm genus Butia Becc". Fieldiana. 32 (10): 167. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.2384. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  9. "General Herbarium - BGBM". Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  10. Glassman, Sidney Fredrick (1979). "Re-evaluation of the Genus Butia With a Description of a New Species" (PDF). Principes. 23: 74. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  11. Cândida Henrique Mamede, Maria (2018). SP - Herbário do Estado "Maria Eneyda P. Kaufmann Fidalgo" - Coleção de Fanerógamas. Version 1.44. Instituto de Botânica, São Paulo. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/axlcjr accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1087274548
  12. Kembrey, Nigel (11 November 2013). "Butia microspadix - Pacsoa". PACSOA Palms and Cycads wiki. Palm & Cycad Society of Australia Inc. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  13. "Butia microspadix". Palmpedia. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  14. Heiden, G.; Ellert-Pereira, P.E.; Eslabão, M.P. (2015). "Brazilian Flora Checklist - Butia microspadix Burret". Butia in Lista de Espécies da Flora do Brasil, Flora do Brasil 2020 under construction (in Portuguese). Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  15. "Dwarf Butias - anyone growing any of them?". Discussing Palm Trees Worldwide. PalmTalk. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  16. Eslabão, Marcelo Piske (2017). Áreas prioritárias e estado de conservação de Butia (Arecaceae) (PDF) (Thesis) (in Portuguese). Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  17. Soares, Kelen Pureza; Longhi, Solon Jonas; Neto, Leopoldo Witeck; de Assis, Lucas Coelho (2014). "Palmeiras (Arecaceae) no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil". Rodriguésia - Revista do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (in Portuguese). 65 (1): 132. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  18. "Butia microspadix Burret". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy - Checklist dataset. GBIF Secretariat. 2017. doi:10.15468/39omei. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  19. de Campos, Claudia Bueno (2009). Dieta de carnívoros e uso do espaço por mamíferos de médio e grande porte em áreas de silvicultura do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil (Thesis) (in Portuguese). Piracicaba: Universidade de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz. doi:10.11606/T.91.2009.tde-26062009-153739. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  20. Gonçalves, Rodrigo B.; Melo, Gabriel A. R. (December 2005). "A Comunidade de Abelhas (Hymenoptera, Apidae s. I.) em uma Área Restrita de Campo Natural no Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, Paraná" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (in Portuguese). 49 (4): 557–571. doi:10.1590/S0085-56262005000400017. ISSN 1806-9665. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  21. Wagelaar, Edwin (31 December 2017). "Het geslacht Butia". Palmexotica (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  22. Barkema, Alberto Leonardo (February 2009). "Butia microspadix". Discussing Palm Trees Worldwide. PalmTalk. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
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