Bactris major
Bactris major is a small to medium-sized (1–10 m tall) spiny palm which ranges from Mexico, through Central America into northern South America and Trinidad.[5][1] The species is divided into three[1] or four[5] varieties, although the boundaries between varieties is not always clearly defined.[5]
Bactris major | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Arecales |
Family: | Arecaceae |
Genus: | Bactris |
Species: | B. major |
Binomial name | |
Bactris major | |
Synonyms | |
Bactris ovata Stokes (nom. illeg.) Bactris chaetorhachis Mart. Bactris infesta Mart. Bactris socialis Mart. |
The fruits are eaten or used to flavour drinks.[5]
Spanish names for the palm species include marayaú.
Varieties
Rafaël Govaerts recognised three varieties:
- Bactris major var. major[2]
- Bactris major var. infesta (Mart.) Drude[3]
- Bactris major var. socialis (Mart.) Drude[4]
Andrew Henderson and co-authors recognised a fourth variety, Bactris major var. megalocarpa (Trail ex Thurn) A.J.Hend.,[5] but Govaerts considered this to be a synonym of Bactris major var. major.[6]
References
- "Bactris major". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- "Bactris major var. major". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- "Bactris major var. infesta (Mart.) Drude". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- "Bactris major var. socialis (Mart.) Drude". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- Henderson, Andrew; Gloria Galeano; Rodrigo Bernal (1995). Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-08537-4.
- "Bactris major var. megalocarpa (Trail ex Thurn) A.J.Hend". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.