12. Undergrowth palm with pinnae few, often 



several-ribbed and spreading 



13. Geonoma deversa 



DESCRIPTIONS 



Descriptions have been compiled from field observations and 

 collections, in combination with the following references where 

 needed, to achieve further clarity and a greater understanding of 

 the variation possible in a particular species: Balick (1980b), 

 Dugand (1976), Glassman (1970), Macbride (1960), Wessels 

 Boer (1965, 1968, 1972). 



1. Mauritia flexuosa L.f. Suppl. PI. 454, 1782. 



Tall, solitary, dioecious palms to more than 25 m; trunk 30-40 cm in diame- 

 ter, with leaf scars apparent. Leaves costapalmate, to 4 m or longer from 

 sheath to tip; segments many. 12 m long; dead leaves persisting but finally 

 falling from the coma with time. Panicles several per tree; peduncle 0.6-1 m 

 long; second order branches 30 or more, each to I m long; flowers in short, 

 bracteate spikes. Fruits ellipsoid, subglobose, ca 5 X 3 4 cm, covered with 

 scales and turning orange-red when ripe, each fruit weighing ca 26 grams; 

 mesocarp pulpy, bright orange in color; endocarp stony; endosperm white, 

 homogenous, solid. 



Distribution: Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, the Guayanas, Peru. 

 Brazil, Bolivia. 



Mauritia flexuosa is common in swampy, seasonally inun- 

 dated or moist areas of the Llanos. It is social in habit, occuring 

 in stands of almost uncountable numbers. The huge populations 

 of this palm with their columnar trunks form a breathtaking 

 sight, which Wallace ( 1 853) described as "... a vast natural tem- 

 ple which does not yield in grandeur and sublimity to those of 

 Palmyra or Athens." 



ms 



areas is due to the ability of the leaves to attract the water vapor 

 from the air and "concentrate" it at the base of the tree, as 

 Humboldt (1852) mentioned, ". . .for this reason water is con- 

 stantly found at its foot, when dug for to a certain depth." 



During a trip to "Las Gaviotas," in 1978, I was unable to 

 locate plants bearing either flowers or fruits. While Mauritia 

 flexuosa, in this region at least, is thought to flower and fruit 



5 



