cupule, oblong with a small, apical stigmatic residue, turning yellow when ripe; 

 endosperm homogenous. 



Distribution: Colombia, French Guiana, Brazil. 



In the Llanos, Syagrus inajai is often found in quantity along 

 the margins of the gallery forests where it grades into the 

 savanna, and also as an understorey palm inside the gallery 

 forests. 



Common Names: "Churiibay" (Spanish); "Oroboto" (Gua- 

 hibo). 



Uses: The wood is used in construction of houses, for fencing 

 corrals, and occasionally in bow making. Hunting traps and 

 blinds are placed near these palms for capture of "Lapa" (Agouti 

 sp.) and "Peccari" {Tayassu sp.) in search of the fruits. 



12. Euterpe precatoria Martius, Palmet. Orbign. 10, t. 8, t. 18a, 

 fig. 2. 1847. 



Trunk solitary, to 20 m tall, 15 cm in diameter, smooth. Leaves 12-15, 

 pinnate; sheaths forming a crownshaft ca 1.15 m long striped with green and 

 yellow; petiole ca 25 X 3 cm, golden-yellow; rachis ca 2.6 m long; pinnae ca 88 

 per side; more or less oppositely arranged at regular intervals, drooping on 

 older individuals; basal pinnae 60 X 0.5 cm; middle pinnae 90 X 1 .6 cm; apical 

 pinnae 75 X 1 .5 cm. Panicle bearing 2 subequal bracts, the inner ca 90 cm long, 

 primary axis 45 cm long by 4.5 cm wide at bract scar, rachillae white- 

 tomentose, ca 88, 50 X 70 cm long; flowers borne in triads of 1 pistillate 

 surrounded by 2 staminate on proximal 4/5 of the rachilla, on distal 1/5 only 

 staminate flowers present. Staminate flowers pink at anthesis. Fruits oblique- 

 globose, ca 1 cm in diameter, ripening dark purple, stigmatic residue subapical; 

 endosperm homogenous. 



Distribution: Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, Guyana, Surinam, Peru, 

 Brazil, Bolivia. 



Euterpe precatoria is a member of a widespread Neotropical 

 genus of about 50 species. It is social in habit, sometimes form- 

 ing almost pure stands, especially in swampy areas. 



Common Names: "Manaco" (Spanish); "Manacay" (Gua- 

 hibo). 



Uses: The leaves are used for thatch and the trunk for corrals. 

 The palmito is edible and delicious. 



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