UNIVERSITY OF
ILLINOIS LIBRARY
AT URBANA CHAMPAIGN
OL ^-BIOLOGY
JUL1H98?
'S
rFIELDIANA
The Library of the
AUG02 1977
Published by Field Museum of Natural History
Uinvei&uy ot ininoio
Volume 38, No. 5 «(
Preliminary Taxonomic Studies
in the Palm Germs Attalea H.B.K.
S. F. GLASSMAN
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO CIRCLE
AND
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Attalea was first established as a genus by Humboldt et al. ( 1816)
in which they described one species, A. amygdalina. Closely related
genera were later delineated by Martius in 1826 (Maximiliana) and
1837 (Orbignya), Karsten in 1857 (Scheelea), Dugand in 1940 (Para-
scheelea), and Bondar in 1957 (Markleya).
Since 1816, a number of authors have treated A ttalea taxonomi-
cally: Martius ( 1824, 1826, 1844, 1845, 1853), Karsten (1857), Drude
(1881), Barbosa Rodrigues (1903), Burret (1929), Bondar ( 1942a, b,
1964), Dugand ( 1953, 1954), and Wessels Boer ( 1965, 1972).
Drude (1881) divided the genus into three sections, ATTALEAE
VERAE (including a key to six species), CYLINDROSTACHYS
(only A. nucifera), and PSEUDOSCHEELEA (with a key to two
species, A. princeps and .4. phalerata). He also keyed out four other
taxa in which the section they belonged to was uncertain. The first
two sections have male flowers with flattened petals (the second
with flowers spirally arranged rather than in two rows), whereas
male flowers in the third section have fleshy or club-shaped petals.
In the same article, Drude also recognized five species of Orbignya
and four taxa of Maximiliana (including two species of Scheelea, a
genus which Drude did not recognize). In 1929, Burret also split
Attalea into three sections. The first one, Euattalea (containing 15
species divided into two groups by size of trunk), was separated
from Chaunostachys (equivalent to Cylindrostachys of Drude) and
Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 76-23031
US ISSN 0015-0746
Publication 1250 31
101
AU6 5 1977
32 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
Dasystachys (only A. tessmannii) by having male flowers arranged
in two rows rather than in spirals. The latter two sections were sep-
arated by size of trunk, amount of fibers in fruit endocarp, and dif-
ferences in arrangement of staminate flowers (in lax spirals with
lateral branches often irregularly arranged vs. in dense spirals, with
branches regularly arranged on all sides). Section Pseudoscheelea
was, in effect, removed from Attalea because both A princeps and
A. phalerata were transferred to the genus Scheelea by Burret. It is
significant that except for the differences between sections, no key
to the species of the first section was given. In the same article,
Burret also treated the genera Maximiliana (a key to nine taxa),
Orbignya (a partial key to 19 species), and Scheelea (40 taxa, one-
half of which were keyed).
Bondar (1942a, b, 1964) described several new species and con-
structed keys to Attalea of Brazil which totalled 16 taxa. In 1964, he
also listed Brazilian species of Orbignya (14), Scheelea (12), Maxi-
miliana (3), andMarkleya (1). Dugand (1953) described three new
species of Attalea from Colombia and in 1954 he dealt with seven
species known from that country. Of these, he was able to key out
only five taxa owing to insufficient information about the remaining
two.
Perhaps the most controversial treatments of Attalea were pub-
lished by Wessels Boer in which he recognized seven taxa from Suri-
nam (1965) and 15 species from Venezuela (1972). In the latter
paper, only a key to the species was published. The rest of the manu-
script (taxonomic treatment) will hopefully appear in the near
future because some new species and name transfers were men-
tioned without Latin descriptions and without basionyms, respec-
tively. Wessels Boer submerged all other closely related genera
(Maximiliana, Orbignya, Scheelea, Markleya, and Parascheelea)
under Attalea and estimated a total of 100 living species distributed
in tropical America. Reasons for his advocating such a viewpoint
are that because specimens are usually very large and bulky, ade-
quate collections of this group are seldom made, and descriptions of
many species are often based on insufficient material sometimes
without indication of the exact type locality. In the field, it is usu-
ally difficult to place a particular species in the correct genus be-
cause the flowering period is very short. As a result profound confu-
sion exists in the group. The confusion is illustrated, Wessels Boer
continued, by the large number of new combinations under these
genera. Martius named or combined 17 species in Attalea (1826,
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS A TTALEA 33
1844, 1845, and Martius ex Sprengel, 1825) of which 13 have since
been transferred to one of first three genera mentioned above,
mostly by Burret (1929); three species in Maximiliana (1826, 1844)
all of which have been transferred; and of three in Orbignya ( 1844,
1845) one was transferred. Drude (1881, 1887) made four name
transfers among Attalea, Maximiliana, and Orbignya and of seven
species of Attalea described by Barbosa Rodrigues (1875, 1881,
1898, 1899, 1903b) new combinations were made in four. Delimita-
tion of the genera is based mainly on differences in male flower
morphology and without male flowers it is often impossible to iden-
tify a specimen to genus. Wessels Boer also stated that no correla-
tion with other characters could be found ( in some cases, however,
there are good correlations of staminate flowers and inflorescence).
In fact, endocarp characters proposed by Burret ( 1929) proved to be
very unsatisfactory. Parascheelea, described by Dugand has male
flowers intermediate between Scheelea and Orbignya, andMarkleya
was originally designated by Bondar as an intergeneric hybrid be-
tween Orbignya and Maximiliana, but Wessels Boer refuted this
view and later transferred it to the genus A ttalea. He also mentions
the work of Tomlinson (1961) in which no anatomical differences
could be found to separate the various genera in the group. Wessels
Boer concludes that this information furnishes additional argu-
ments for uniting the genera of the Attalea alliance into a single
genus, Attalea. According to him, this alliance is probably the most
poorly understood group of American palms. Existing herbarium
specimens are inadequate and raise more problems than they solve.
Therefore, a great deal of field work in large geographic areas is
necessary before a satisfactory taxonomy can be worked out.
Finally, Punt and Wessels Boer (1966) did a palynological study
of 20 species in the Attalea alliance, and even though they found
three general pollen types, these could not always be correlated with
a particular genus.
In spite of some convincing arguments by Wessels Boer for main-
taining a single genus, there seem to be several distinct genera; but
other characters than male flowers must be found in order to proper-
ly differentiate them. Research in this group either being currently
investigated or planned for the future involves study of pollen mor-
phology, leaf anatomy, chemotaxonomy, and gross morphology.
The following key to the genera, distilled from various sources
and including some of my own observations, emphasizes the exclu-
sive use of male flowers as a means of differentiation.
34 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
KEY TO ATTALEA ALLIANCE
1. Thecae of the anthers separate and divergent, irregularly coiled and inrolled,
petals of male flowers usually curved or twisted.
2. Petals of male flower narrowed below and abruptly broadened above, usually 3
in number, sometimes 2 or 5, stamens usually 12-24 (occasionally 6-9)
Orbignya
2. Petals of male flower lanceolate, broader below, gradually narrowed above,
usually 3 in number, stamens 7-12 Markleya
1. Thecae of anthers usually straight, sometimes twisted, but with connective con-
tinuing through length of the anther, petals of male flowers usually straight,
occasionally curved.
3. Petals of male flowers fleshy, usually plano-convex or terete in cross-section.
4. Petals of male flowers coherent in a column for one-third their length, the
remaining free part curved in form of a hook, anthers helicoidally twisted.
Parascheelea
4. Petals of male flowers free for all or most of their length, erect, anthers
straight Scheelea
3. Petals of male flowers not fleshy, usually flattened
5. Stamens usually much longer than the petals, stamens always 6
Maximiliana
5. Stamens usually much shorter than the petals, stamens 6-75 .... Attalea
Since this paper will now deal primarily with species of Attalea, a
condensed description of the genus follows:
Tall trees with smooth trunks and inconspicuous leaf scars, or lacking trunks
(acaulescent); leaves usually very long, pinnately compound, leaf base conspicuous,
petiole often short, with fibrous margins; pinnae usually not clustered, sometimes in
clusters of 2-5; plants monoecious, flowers unisexual, but female (androgynous)
spadices also with male flowers; both female and male spathes woody and deeply
sulcate, usually terminating in a long umbo; androgynous spadices usually with
many branches, each branch with few to several female flowers along basal part
forming triads with two male flowers, the terminal portion slender and with male
flowers only; female flowers relatively large, subtended by two bracts, with 3 sub-
equal or equal convex imbricate sepals and 3 similar petals, pistil large with a well
developed staminodial ring surrounding the ovary, carpels 3-several, fused, stigmas
usually 3, style short or absent; male spadices many branched, male flowers usually
arranged in two rows along the rachillae, seldom in spirals around the rachillae;
male flowers with 3 short sepals and 3 much longer valvate, flattened petals, sta-
mens 6-75 per flower, usually much shorter than petals, anthers not conspicuously
twisted; fruits 1- to several-seeded, exocarp fibrous, mesocarp usually pulpy and
fibrous, endocarp stony, usually more than twice as thick as exocarp and mesocarp
combined, in cross-section endocarp often dotted with conspicuous clusters of
fibers, persistent perianth and staminodial ring usually enlarged in fruit; seeds con-
forming to size and shape of locules, endosperm homogeneous.
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATTALEA 35
As its title indicates, the present paper is intended as a prelimi-
nary study only. In addition to perusing the literature, I have bor-
rowed and studied specimens from a number of herbaria in the
United States and Europe. Despite the fact that some of the type
specimens are represented by incomplete collections, I have attemp-
ted to account for all validly published species names, either origi-
nally described in or transferred to the genus Attalea, A total of 62
taxa are in this grouping. Subsequently, the 62 taxa were divided
into three separate categories: (1) Alphabetical List of Species (28
names, six of which are synonyms) includes those taxa which defi-
nitely or most probably belong to Attalea, based mainly on male
flower morphology; (2) Excluded Species (22 names), those palms
which definitely or most probably belong to one of the other genera
in the alliance, but not Attalea; and (3) Doubtful or Uncertain Spe-
cies (12 names), mostly include those taxa which cannot definitely
be placed in any of the genera in the alliance due to generally poor
descriptions and inadequate type specimens, but mainly because
male flowers are unknown. There are also included in category 3 a
few taxa based on immature specimens, and others which are defi-
nitely A ttalea but may be conspecific with other recognized species
because of apparent close similarities.
The following key (based on descriptions, illustrations, and speci-
mens examined) includes 21 species of Attalea derived from the
Alphabetical List. Unfortunately, A. amygdalina could not be
keyed out because pinnae in this taxon are unknown. It should be
pointed out that since this is a preliminary study, characteristics
used here to distinguish species or groups of species may not always
be completely reliable because in some cases they are not based on
enough material to determine the full range of variability.
Subsequent to the species key, each of three lists (see above) are
patterned in the following manner: All species names are arranged
alphabetically with the author and original place of publication.
Frequently, other pertinent articles are also listed. Complete cita-
tions of these and other articles mentioned throughout the text are
listed under "References" at the end of this paper. Synonyms,
where applicable, are also listed and these are in italics. The type of
each species, when known, is listed, and subsequently followed by a
list of one or more cited specimens examined by me. Holotypes, iso-
types, and lectotypes are specifically listed as such; however when
the status of a type is uncertain it is merely called "type." For each
specimen, collector and collecting number is followed by a herbar-
36 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
ium symbol (e.g., BH, F, MO). Abbreviations of herbaria used here
are those listed in Index Herbariorum by Holmgren and Keuken
(1974).
KEY TO SPECIES OFAttalea
1. Middle pinnae in clusters of 2-5.
2. Plants acaulescent, androgynous spadix branched or unbranched.
3. Androgynous spadix many branched, rachillae of male spadix 6 cm. long,
each with 25 male flowers, stamens 9 in number A. exigua
3. Androgynous spadix unbranched or with short branches mostly 0.5 cm. long,
rachillae of male spadix 1-4.5 cm. long, each with 6-15 male flowers, stamens
6 in number A. allenii
2. Plants arborescent, 5-25 m. tall, androgynous spadix many branched.
4. Female flowers up to 2 cm. long, mature fruits 4-4.5 cm. long and 2 cm. in
diam., male flowers 10-11 mm. long A. dubia
4. Female flowers 2.6-3.5 cm. long, mature fruits 6.5-13 cm. long and 4.2-7 cm.
in diam., male flowers 13-20 mm. long
5. Fruits 13 cm. X 7 cm., 1-2 seeded, male flowers 19-20 mm. long, stamens 6,
anthers 4-7 mm. long A. funifera
5. Fruits 6.5-7.5 cm. X 4.2-4.5 cm., 1-seeded, male flowers 11-17 mm. long,
stamens 9-10, anthers 7-9 mm. long A. concinna
1. Middle pinnae not clustered, more or less evenly spaced.
6. Male flowers spirally arranged all around the rachillae.
7. Stamens 6 in number, male rachillae up to 6 cm. long, anthers 5-6 mm.
long A. nucifera
1. Stamens 9-12 in number, male rachillae 26-28 cm. long, anthers 4 mm.
long A. tessmannii
6. Male flowers arranged in 1-2 rows on one side of the rachillae
8. Stamens 6-9 in number.
9. Plants usually arborescent, rachillae of male spadix 14-31 cm. long.
10. Anthers approximately 14 mm. long, male rachillae about 14 cm.
long A. concentrista
10. Anthers 7-10 mm. long, male rachillae 16-31 cm. long
11. Rachillae of male spadix about 31 cm. long, male flowers 20-25 mm.
long, female flowers 5 cm. long A. piassabossu
11. Rachillae of male spadix 16-22 cm. long, male flowers 13-20 mm.
long, female flowers 2.5-3.5 cm. long.
12. Rachillae of male spadix about 16 cm. long, fruits 8-10 cm. long,
1-3 seeded A. burretiana
12. Rachillae of male spadix about 22 cm. long, fruits 6.5-7.5 cm. long,
1-seeded A. oleifera
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATTALEA 37
9. Plants usually acaulescent, rachillae of male spadlx 2-8 cm. long.
13. Stamens 9 in number, middle pinnae 40-52 cm. long and 2.5-3.5 cm.
wide A. geraensis
13. Stamens 6 in number, middle pinnae 60-88 cm. long and 3.5-4.5 cm.
wide.
14. Male flowers 10-15 mm. long, anthers 12 mm. long, female flowers
3-4 cm. long, middle pinnae about 60 cm. long A. borgesiana
14. Male flowers 25-35 mm. long, anthers 7 mm. long, female flowers
about 2.2 cm. long, middle pinnae about 88 cm. long A. humilis
8. Stamens 10-75 in number.
15. Stamens 60-75 in number, plants arborescent, anthers 4-5 mm.
long A. septuagenata
15. Stamens 10-21 in number, acaulescent or arborescent, when ar-
borescent anthers 11-12 mm. long.
16. Plants arborescent, anthers 11-12 mm. long
17. Middle pinnae about 109 cm. long and 6 cm. wide, male flow-
ers 18-22 mm. long and 2-3 mm. wide A. compta
17. Middle pinnae 60-70 cm. long and 3.5-4.5 cm. wide, male
flowers 16-18 mm. long and 6-7 mm. wide A. pindobassu
16. Plants acaulescent, anthers 4-6 mm. long
18. Male flowers 12-15 mm. long, stamens 12-15 in number
19. Male rachillae about 9 cm. long, expanded part of male
spathe 50 cm. long and 7 cm. in diam., mature fruits 6.5 cm.
long and 4.5 cm. in diam A. guaranitica
19. Male rachillae 15-20 cm. long, expanded part of male
spathe 78 cm. long and 11.5 cm. in diam., mature fruits 8.5-
10.8 cm. long and 4-5.5 cm. in diam A. victoriana
18. Male flowers 18-22 mm. long, stamens 15-21 in number.
20. Rachillae of androgynous spadix 3.5-4 cm. long, middle
pinnae 70 cm. long and 3.3 cm. wide, with ferrugineous,
lepidote margins and tips, staminodial ring of female flower
with cilia te margins A. ferruginea
20. Rachillae of androgynous spadix 20-30 cm. long, middle
pinnae 115-125 cm. long and 6-8 cm. wide, margins and tips
mostly glabrous, staminodial ring without ciliate mar-
gins A. uberrima
ATTALEA
ATTALEA H. B. K., Nov. Gen. et Sp. 1: 309. 1816.
Type species: Attalea amygdalina H. B. K.
38 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SPECIES
A. allenii H. E. Moore, Gentes Herbarum 8: 191, fig. 82. 1949: Du-
gand, 1953.
Holotype: Panama (Allen 4103-MO).
Specimens examined: Panama, Prov. Colon. Allen 4103 (MO,
holotype; BH, isotype); Lao & Holdridge 197 (MO); Prov. Canal
Zone, A. Gentry 6298 (MO) Colombia, Dept. Del Valle, O. F. Cook
64 (US); Cuatrecasas 16397, 19948 (F); H. E. Moore et al. 9460,
9468 (BH); J. A. Duke 11377 (BH); E. P. Killip 35311 (US); D. A.
M. Gutimes 19 (BH).
This species is well known from its description and is supported
by a fair number of collected specimens. The only diagnostic part
not seen by me is the androgynous spathe.
A. amygdalina H. B. K., Nov. Gen. et Sp. 1: 310, t. 95-96, 1816;
Dugand, 1940; 1953; 1954.
Lectotype: Colombia, prov. Choco near Zitara (Humboldt &Bon-
plands.n. — P). c.f. Dahlgren, 1936, p. 38.
Specimens examined: See lectotype above.
Original description contains very little information to delimit it
as a distinct species except for size of plant (acaulescent?), branch-
ing of androgynous spadix, number of stamens (18-22), and size of
fruits. Plates 95-96 show some details of the androgynous spathe
and spadix and male and female flowers and fruit. The male flowers
definitely belong toAttalea but the number of stamens is uncertain.
As mentioned above, Humboldt et al. described the male flowers as
having 18-22 stamens; but the lectotype (consisting only of four
rachillae with one female flower and a packet of male flowers ) from
Paris has male flowers with only 17-18 stamens. Dugand ( 1953) dis-
cusses the type locality with reference to comments made by Kar-
sten (1857, p. 257). In addition to the locality listed above, Hum-
boldt and Bonpland mentioned that this species was cultivated in
orchards near Cartago and Guaduas. Dugand believes that the spe-
cies seen by these two men in Guaduas was not the same as they
saw in Cartago. They passed through Guaduas in April, 1801, but
travelled into Cartago in October during the time this species of
palm is supposed to flower. He also thinks that the plant seen in
GLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATTALEA 39
flower here was the basis for Humboldt and Bonpland's description
of A. amygdalina. In Cartago, they probably were informed by
someone that this species originated in the province of Choco, near
Zitara because apparently these famous explorers did not visit the
Choco region themselves.
Incidentally, A. amygdalina is the type species of Attalea since it
was the first one (and also the only one described by H.B.K.) de-
scribed under this genus. At present, this taxon is only known from
the lectotype (no specimens were cited in the original article) and
hence it is based on incomplete information. It is hoped that addi-
tional collections from Colombia in the future will be useful in delim-
iting A amygdalina as a clear cut species.
A. borgesiana Bondar, Bol. Inst. Centr. Fom. Econ. Bahia 13: 67,
figs. 20-22. 1942b. (sine descr. Lat.); Bondar ex Dahlgren, Trop.
Woods 77: 42. 1944. A. borgesiana Hawkes, Arq. Bot. Est. Sao
Paulo 2: 176. 1952. Superfluous name.
Lectotype: Brazil, Bahia, Sao Sebastiao (Bondar s.n., F-619755),
c.f. Classman, 1972, p. 291.
Specimens examined: See lectotype above.
Neither Bondar nor Dahlgren cited specimens, therefore the
above specimen has been designated as lectotype. Even though this
taxon is known only from one collection, it seems to be a distinct
species.
A. burretiana Bondar, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Bot. 22: 460. 1942a:
Bol. Inst. Centr. Fom. Econ. Bahia 13: 63, figs. 17-19. 1942b.
Lectotype: Brazil, Bahia, Aratu (Bondar 24, F-619754), c.f. Class-
man, 1972, p. 22.
?A camposportoana Burret, Notizbl. 14: 257. 1938. Holotype:
Brazil, Minas Gerais (Burret 1 7-B ).
Specimens examined: Brazil, Bahia, Aratu (see lectotype above);
Bondar s.n. (F-619753); Bondar s.n. (F); Minas Gerais, Burret 17
(B, holotype of A. camposportoana', RB, isotype — label says Bur-
ret 17&Brade).
At present, I am not certain if A. camposportoana is synonymous
with A burretiana. After further study, if this proves to be the case,
then the former species will become the "correct name" because of
priority.
40 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
In his article, "New palms of Bahia," Bondar (1942a) cited all
specimens for each new species described ( four species of Cocos and
four species of Attalea) as isotypes deposited in Field Museum.
From this information it was assumed that at least one other set of
specimens existed in Brazil. After a number of inquiries over a
period of years, however, I have not been able to locate any other
sets of specimens for the species described in the above article.
Therefore, I have designated all specimens called isotypes by Bon-
dar as lectotypes, in accordance with article 7 of the International
Code of Botanical Nomenclature ( Stafleu, 1972).
A. compta Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm. 2: 137, t. 41, 97, 1826; Bondar,
figs. 1-3, 11, 1942b.
Lectotype: Brazil in plures provincias (Princ. M. Neovidensis s.n.
-M). c.f. Dahlgren, 1959, pi. 26.
Specimens examined: Brazil (see lectotype above); Brazil, Princ.
M. Neovidensis s.n. (M); Bahia, Bondar s.n. (F-619757); Bondar
s.n. (F); Espirito Santo, Bondar 18 (F-404618).
The lectotype (consisting of only four separate pinnae) was chosen
as such because this specimen contains information similar to that
in original article. Martius (1826) listed 10 different provinces in
Brazil where this palm grows, but no specimens were cited.
This species seems to be well documented through its description
and collections. A complete description of the male spathe and
spadix is lacking, however. Kuntze (1898) cites cultivated speci-
mens from Bocaine, Mato Grosso. Specimens I have examined
(Kuntze s.n. — BH) appear to be another species because some of
the pinnae are clustered and fruit endocarp has conspicuous fiber
clusters.
A. concentrista Bondar, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Bot. 22: 461,
1942a, b; 1964.
Lectotype: Brazil, Bahia, municipios de S. Antonio de Jesus,
Amargosa, Aeria, S. Ignez (Bondar s.n., F-619759). c.f. Glassman,
1972, p. 23.
Specimens examined: Brazil, Bahia (see lectotype above); Bondar
s.n. (F-619758).
Known only from the above collections, but seems to be a clear-
cut taxon.
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATTALEA 41
A. concinna (Barb. Rodr.) Burret, Notzbl, 10: 537, 1929. Pindarea
concinna Barb. Rodr., PL Nov. Cult. Jard. Bot. Rio 5: 17, t. 4c,
1896; t. 59A, 1903a.
Lectotype: Cult. Brazil, Jard. Bot. Rio (Barb. Rodr., t. 59A,
1903a).
Specimens examined: Brazil, Glaziou 14365 (C, MO); Cult. Prov.
Rio de Janeiro, Larangeiras, Nov. 3, 1882, Glaziou 14365 (F, P,
US).
According to Burret (1929), Glaziou 14365 apparently came from
the original tree in Jard. Bot. Rio because the male flowers matched
Barbosa Rodrigues' illustration well. No specimens were cited in
either article (1896 or 1903a) by Barbosa Rodrigues. Furthermore,
the collections from F, P, and US came from Larangeiras, whereas
the others (C, MO) have essentially no data except to repeat Bur-
ret's 1929 quote about Glaziou 14365. To avoid confusion, I have
chosen one of Barbosa Rodrigues' plates as the lectotype, rather
than one of the specimens mentioned above.
Even though only a limited number of cultivated specimens have
been seen, A. concinna is fairly well described and appears to be a
distinct species.
A. dubia (Mart.) Burret, Notizbl. 10: 537, 1929; Dahlgren, pis.
27-28, 32, 1959. Orbignya dubia Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm. 3: 304, t.
169, fig. 6. 1845.
Lectotype: Brazil, prov. Sebastionopolitana (Martius, t. 169-fig.
6, 1845).
Attalea indaya Drude, Mart. Fl. Bras. 3: 437, t. 100, fig. 2, 1881.
Lectotype: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Corcovado (Glaziou 8070-C) c.f.
Dahlgren, 1959, pi. 27.
Pindarea fastuosa Barb. Rodr., PL Nov. Cult. Jard. Bot. 5: 23,
t. 5 A, 1896; t. 59B, 1903a. Lectotype: Cult. Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
(t. 5 A), c.f. Classman, 1972, p. 186.
Specimens examined: Brazil Sao Paulo, 225 km. s. of Sao Paulo,
Krapovickas et al. 21354 (F). Cultivated, Rio de Janeiro, Corcovado,
Glaziou 8070 (C, lectotype of A. indaya; F, P), Jardim Botanico,
Glaziou 17341 (F, US), 20534 (NY), Dahlgren & Millar s.n. (F-
61149).
No specimens were cited by Martius, nor could any be found in
Munich. Therefore, the illustration by Martius was chosen as lecto-
42 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
type. For A. indaya, Drude (1881) cited both Glaziou 303 and 8070
with no indication of herbarium. Glaziou 8070 (C) was chosen as
lectotype because it was first illustrated in Dahlgren (1959) and is
represented by ample material. Specimens of Glaziou 303 from BR
or C could not be found, but photographs of a fruiting spadix was
seen.
Even though the geographic distribution of this taxon is uncer-
tain (Angely, 1957 also reported it from the state of Parana), it
seems to be distinct from the other arborescent species with clus-
tered pinnae.
A. exigua Drude, Mart. Fl. Bras 3: 439, t. 100, fig. 1, 1881; Bur-
ret, 1929.
Holotype: Brazil, Mato Grosso, between Goyaz and Cuyaba
(Weddell2965-P).
Specimens examined: Brazil, Mato Grosso (see holotype above;
F, isotype — upper portion of leaf only).
This taxon seems to be distinct even though information is lack-
ing on the androgynous spathe and spadix, and relatively few speci-
mens have been collected. I have also seen Weddell 2022 (B) from
Goyaz and Snethlage 737 (B) from Maranhao, cited by Drude and
Burret, respectively. Neither specimen, however, contain diagnostic
parts which can be definitely attributed to this taxon.
A. ferruginea Burret, Notizbl. 11: 1044, 1934.
Holotype: Venezuela — Brazil border, Rio Negro (leg. C. Lako,
comm. G. Huebner 166 — B).
Specimens examined: Venezuela — Brazil border (see holotype
above). Colombia, Vaupes, Rio Negro, San Felipe, R. E. Schultes,
R. E. Baker & I. Cabrera 18040 (BH, US). Venezuela, Terr. Ama-
zonas, Wessels Boer 1894, 1906, 1945, 2322 (U).
A. funifera Mart, ex Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 2: 624, 1825; Martius
t. 95-96 (fig. 4), 1826; Bondar, figs. 4-8, 1942b.
Lectotype: Brazil, Espirito Santo, Porto Seguro & Bahia (Martius
1826, t. 95-96, fig. 4).
A. acaulis Burret, Fedde Rep. 32: 103, 1933; Bondar, 1964.
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATTALEA 43
Holotype: Brazil, Bahia ( Werdermann 3182 — B).
Specimens examined: Brazil, Bahia, Bondar 21 (F-404620, F-
619760): Werdermann 3182 (B, holotype of A. acaulis)', Werder-
mann 3114 (B); Sao Salvador, Sand Dunes, Dahlgren s.n. (F-
614747, F-611639); Cult., Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro, L. H. Bailey &
E. Z. Bailey 484 (BH), Dahlgren s.n. (F-611639).
No specimens were cited by Martius, nor could any authentic
collections be located at Munich or Brussels, therefore the illustra-
tions of Martius were chosen as the lectotype.
Apparently, this taxon is confined to coastal areas in the states of
Bahia and Espirito Santo. It seems to be distinct from the other
arborescent species with clustered pinnae.
A. geraensis Barb. Rodr., Plant. Nov. Cult. Jard. Bot. Rio de Jan.
6: 22, t. 7. 1898 ("ceraensis")', t. 56, 1903.
Lectotype: Brazil, Minas Gerais, Alfenas (t. 7, 1898). c.f. Glass-
man, 1972, p. 24.
A. apoda Burret, Fedde Rep. 32: 105, 1933.
Holotype: Brazil, Minas Gerais (Glaziou 22266-P).
Specimens examined: Brazil, Sao Paulo, Munic. Moji-Guacu, G.
Eiten & L. Eiten 1902, 2208, 2212, 2220 (BH); Minas Gerais, be-
tween Porto do Rio Paracatu & Piquiero, Glaziou 22266 (P, holotype
ofAttaleaapoda; BR, C, G, MO, isotypes).
Even though no specimens were cited by Barbosa Rodrigues in
the original articles, his description and illustrations are sufficient
to indicate a distinct species. The excellent collections of Eiten and
Eiten, cited above, also corroborate this.
I am tentatively placing A. apoda under this taxon because of its
close resemblance to A. geraensis, in spite of Burret's incomplete
description. Fruits are lacking in the description as well as in the
type specimens. Even though Burret (1933) did not indicate where
Glaziou 22266 was deposited, the specimen from Paris should be the
holotype because it is the only one containing all of the data cited by
Burret.
A. guaranitica Barb. Rodr., Palm. Nov. Parag. 27, t. 4D, 1899;
t. 57B, 1903a.
44 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
Lectotype: Paraguay, Cordillera de Pirebebuy (Hassler 1860 - G).
Specimens examined: Paraguay, Cordillera de Pirebebuy, (see
lectotype above); Valenzuela, Balansa 3316, 4775 (P).
Dahlgren (1936) listed Anizitz as the type for this species, but
Barbosa Rodrigues did not cite this specimen in either article above.
In his original paper, however, he does mention in the introduction
that collections made by D. Juan Anizitz were a very important
contribution to his descriptions of Paraguayan palms. Unfortu-
nately, I have not been able to locate any of Anizitz 's specimens.
Presumably, they were destroyed by fire along with the personal
collections of Barbosa Rodrigues. In view of this in 1972 I listed
t. 57B, 1903 as the lectotype, but later discovered that Barbosa
Rodrigues cited Hassler I860 (G) in the same article. Since no speci-
mens were actually cited in the 1899 publication, I am designating
the above specimen (which only consists of two leaf parts) as the lec-
totype. The other two specimens examined by me are more complete
as both have pinnae, male spadices and male flowers, and 3316 has
female flowers and fruits as well. Both specimens came from Valen-
zuela, close to the locality mentioned in the original article ("Para-
guay, ad Cordillera does Altos, propre pueblo Valenzuela, ad ripas
RioY-aka").
Even though relatively few collections of this taxon have been
seen I am recognizing it as a good species because of the fairly com-
plete description and adequate illustrations.
A. humilis Mart, ex Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 2: 624, 1825; Mart.
1844, p. 121; 1845, t. 168, fig. 1.
Lectotype: Brazil, plures provincias (Princ. M. Neovidensis s.n.
- M). c.f. Dahlgren, 1959, pi. 29.
A. compta var. acaulis Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm. 2: t. 75, 1826.
Lectotype: Brazil (t. 75). c.f. Glassman, 1972, p. 23.
Specimens examined: Brazil, (see lectotype above). Espirito
Santo, Bondar 20 (F-404620),22 (F-404620); cult. Jard. Bot. Rio de
j aneiro, Dahlgren s. n. ( F-6 1 1 620 ) .
No localities were mentioned by Martius ( 1825), but several locali-
ties and provinces were listed by him in (1844). Since no collections
were cited, the above specimen was selected as the lectotype.
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS A TTALEA 45
Even though this taxon is incompletely known, it seems to be dis-
tinct from other species of Attalea. A photo of the lectotype in
Dahlgren (pi. 29, 1959) is incorrectly listed from the herbarium in
Copenhagen.
A. nucifera Karsten, Linnaea 28: 255, 1857; t. 68, 1861; Drude,
1. 101, 1881; Burret, 1929; Dugand, 1940; 1953; 1954.
Lectotype: Colombia, Guaduas (t. 68, 1861).
No specimens were cited by Karsten in either article listed above,
therefore, I am designating t. 68 as the lectotype of this species.
Drude (1881) placed this taxon in a separate section, Cylindro-
stachys, and Burret (1929) also classified it in a separate section,
Chaunostachys, because of the spiral arrangement of the male flow-
ers around the rachillae rather than the usual arrangement in two
rows. Burret questioned the authenticity of Drude's t. 101 and
specimen (Trail 212 — K) and said that his material may be Orbig-
nya sabulosa instead of A. nucifera. Dugand (1953) recognized this
taxon as distinct from other Colombian species, and said he exam-
ined two examples from Dept. Santander collected by A. Ranghel-
Galindo and from Dept. Bolivar by Victor Najar which certainly
correspond to A. nucifera. From this account it was not clear wheth-
er the specimens seen by Dugand were actually deposited in the
herbarium in Bogota (COL) because they were not cited in the con-
ventional manner along with collecting numbers. Consequently, a
loan of these specimens was requested for future study.
Even though there are probably few collections of this taxon, the
information available indicates that it is a distinct species of
Attalea.
A. oleifera Barb. Rodr., Nov. Rev. Braz. 7: 123, 1881; t. 58, 1903a;
Burret, 1929; Bondar, 1964.
Lectotype: Brazil, Alagoas and Pernambuco, Rio S. Francisco
(t. 58, 1903). c.f. Classman 1972, p. 25.
A. monogyna Burret, Notizbl. 10: 534, 1929.
Lectotype: Brazil, Goias, Serra dos Pyreneos (Glaziou 22269 -
BR).c.f. Classman, 1972, p. 25.
Specimens examined: Brazil, Goias, Serra dos Pyreneos, Glaziou
22269 (BR, lectotype of A. monogyna; BH, C, MO, isolectotypes);
46 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
Goias, Rio Vagabine, Meia Ponte, Glaziou 22270 (BR); Brazil (with-
out locality) Glaziou 15556 (C, MO).
Barbosa Rodrigues did not cite specimens in either article, hence
the selection of t. 58 as the lectotype. Burret did not formally de-
scribe A. monogyna, but only compared it with A. oleifera which
legally is a partial description. Since the original specimen cited by
Burret from Berlin could not be found, one of the isotypes was
designated as the lectotype.
Even though relatively few authentic collections of this taxon
exist, it was well described and illustrated by Barbosa Rodrigues.
Attalea oleifera seems to be most closely related to A. burretiana
from Bahia.
A. piassabossu Bondar, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Bot. 22: 462,
1942a; figs. 12-14, 1942b.
Lectotype: Brazil, Bahia, Alegre, near Salvador (Bondar 6,
F-619762). c.f. Glassman, 1972, p. 25.
Specimens examined: Brazil, Bahia (see lectotype above); Bondar
s.n.,(F-619714, F-619732).
This taxon seems to be distinct because it is backed up by an ade-
quate description and fairly complete collections. Bondar (1964)
says that A. piassabossu is probably a hybrid between A. burreti-
ana and A. acaulis (=A. funifera). Further field studies should be
made before this claim can be substantiated.
A. pindobassu Bondar, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Bot. 22: 462, 1942;
figs. 15-16, 1942b.
Lectotype: Brazil, Bahia, center of state (Bondar s.n., F-619761).
c.f. Glassman, 1972, p. 26.
Specimens examined: Brazil, Bahia (see lectotype above).
Bondar (1942b) says that this species differs from other Attaleas
of Bahia in the number of stamens ( 12), except for A. compta which
has longer and narrower flowers. Attalea pindobassu is well de-
scribed but the lectotype comprises only pickled rachillae with
female and male flowers from an androgynous spadix. It is not cer-
tain whether the original collection contained additional material
such as leaves, male spadices or fruits, which may have been lost or
misplaced.
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATT ALE A 47
A. septuagenata Dugand, Mutisia 18: 3, 1953; 20: 4, 1954; Cal-
dasia 7: 145, 1955.
Holotype: Colombia, Amazonas, Rio Miritiparana, Cano Guacaya
(Schultes & Cabrera 15796 — COL).
Specimens examined: Colombia, Amazonas (see holotype above);
Schultes & Cabrera 15796 (EH, isotype).
This taxon is certainly one of the most distinctive mAttalea and
apparently the only one with male flowers having as many as 75
stamens.
A. tessmannii Burret, Notizbl. 10: 538, 1929; Macbride, 1960.
Holotype: East Peru, upper Amazon, Soledad (Tessmann 5167 -
G).
Specimens examined: East Peru, upper Amazon, Soledad, Tess-
mann 5167 (G, holotype — male and female rachillae and flowers;
B, F, NY, isotypes — male rachillae and flowers only); Tessmann
s.n.(B — fruit).
According to Burret (1929), the female and male rachillae were
collected from two different trees which he accordingly designated
as 5167 and 5167a. He also cited Tessmann 5395, Middle Ucayali,
Yarina Cocha (with male flowers and fruit illustrations), but I have
not been able to locate this specimen.
Burret did not indicate in which herbarium the original specimens
were deposited, but the sheet from (G) is the only one with both
male and female flowers and with data cited exactly as in Burret
(1929).
Even though pinnae were not described or collected and the spe-
cies is known only from a few collections, nevertheless, it appears to
be distinct because the male flowers are arranged all around the
rachilla rather than in pairs.
One discrepancy" should be noted here. Burret describes the male
flowers as having 12 stamens. None of the flowers examined by me
had more than nine stamens.
A. uberrima Dugand, Mutisia 18: 4, 1953; 1954.
Holotype: Colombia, Caldas (R. Jaramillo — Mejia 199 — COL).
48 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
Specimen examined: see holotype above.
Dugand also cites Jaramillo — Mejia 24 (COL) from the same
locality as a paratype. He says that this species is probably close to
A. amygdalina, but it would be difficult to equate the latter taxon
with A. uberrima because of its incomplete description and the fact
that A. amygdalina is still only known with certainty from the type
collection (which in itself is incomplete — consists mainly of male
rachillae and male flowers).
A. victoriana Dugand, Mutisia 18: 9, 1953; 1954.
Holotype: Colombia, Valle, Correg. Galicia & Ceilan (V. M.
Patino 29718 -COL).
Specimens examined: (see holotype above) Colombia, Valle, 12
km. de Bugalagrande, V. M. Patino 1 (F).
Besides the type specimen listed above, Dugand also cites nine
other numbers, 29721 through 29729, in the same article. In 1954, he
gave a detailed description of the fruits of this species, and com-
pared them with the smaller fruits of A. uberrima ( 10-12 cm. long X
5-7 cm. diam. v.s. 8.5-10 cm. X 4-5. 5 cm.).
ATTALEA
EXCLUDED SPECIES
A. attaleoides (Barb. Rodr.) Wessels Boer, Indig. Palms Suri-
name 157, 1965. Maximiliana attaleoides Barb. Rodr. 1875, p. 41.
Englerophoenix attaleoides (Barb. Rodr.) Barb. Rodr. 1903a, t.
60A.
Lectotype: Brazil (Barb. Rodr., t. 60A, 1903). c.f. Wessels Boer,
1965, p. 157.
In his original article, Barbosa Rodrigues 355 was cited, but this
specimen apparently has been destroyed. Therefore, in the absence
of specimens, a lectotype was chosen from the illustration. The male
flowers are described as having lanceolate, dorso-convex petals with
blunt tips and stamens included in the corolla. Wessels Boer cites
the following specimens under this name: Wessels Boer 1204, 1430,
1431 (U) from Surinam. He also says that this species with its typi-
cal Scheelea flowers and its typical Maximiliana fruits cannot be
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATTALEA 49
placed satisfactorily in one of these genera and supports the idea of
one large genus, Attalea. According to my current thinking on the
subject, this taxon probably belongs in Scheelea but needs further
study. At any rate, there already exists Scheelea attaleoides Kar-
sten, 1857, based on another type.
A. cephalotes Poeppigex Mart., Palmet. Orbign. 119, 1844; Mar-
tius 1845, 1. 169. = Scheelea cephalotes (Poeppigex Mart. ) Karsten,
1857, p. 269; Dahlgren 1959, pi. 371.
Lectotype: Peru (Poeppig s.n. — M, photo-oversize sheet).
It is not certain whether original material went to Vienna or
Munich; but since the Vienna specimen (illustrated by Dahlgren,
1959) was destroyed, I am designating the sheet from Munich as the
lectotype.
According to the original description, male flowers are linear and
thick, and therefore should be included in the genus Scheelea.
A. cohune Mart., Palmet. Orbign. 121, 1844; t. 167, 1845. = Or-
bignya cohune (Mart.) Dahlgren ex Standley, 1932, p. 3.
Lectotype: Honduras (Mart., t. 167, 1845). c.f. Glassman, 1972,
p. 23.
In the absence of type specimens, I have designated the above as
the lectotype.
Male flowers have coiled anthers and abruptly narrowed petals,
hence this well known palm belongs in the genus Orbignya.
A. crassispatha (Mart.) Burret, Sv. Vet. Akad. Handl. 6: 23, t. 8-
11, 1929a; Bailey, 1939, figs. 167-170. Maximiliana crassispatha
Mart., Palmet. Orbign. 110. 1844.
Lectotype: Haiti (Plumier, Nov. PI. Amer. Gen. t. 1, 1703). c.f.
Dahlgren, 1936, pp. 209-210.
Specimens examined: Haiti, Fond des Negres, E. Ekman 7164
(NY); O. F. Cook s.n. (BH); L. H. Bailey 299 (BH); L. Figueiras &
P. Louis 2785 (F); between Cavaillon and Aux Cayes, H. Loomis &
T. Fennell s.n. (US).
50 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
Since no specimens were cited by Martius, Plumier's plate was
chosen as the lectotype.
Even though this species is relatively rare and probably confined
to one region of Haiti, it is very distinct and well known botanically
(except for the male spathe and spadix which apparently has not
been described nor collected).
The male flowers (from the androgynous spadix) have coiled and
twisted anthers and fleshy and curved petals, suggesting either
Orbignya or Parascheelea.
Cook (1939) described this taxon under a new genus, Bornoa
(which is invalid because it was published without a Latin descrip-
tion); and Moore (1963) thought that Cook was perhaps correct in
considering this taxon as a distinct genus (from Attalea as well as
other allied genera).
A. dahlgreniana (Bondar) Wessels Boer, Indig. Palms Suriname
158, 1965. = Markleya dahlgreniana Bondar, Arq. Jard. Bot. Rio de
Jan. 15: 50, 1957.
Lectotype: Brazil, Para, Braganca, (Bondar s.n. — RB).
Specimens examined: Brazil, Para, Braganca (see lectotype
above; F, isolectotype).
Wessels Boer ( 1965) also cites 805, 1587 (U) from Surinam.
Even though Bondar noted that material was deposited in three
different herbaria no actual specimens were cited in his article.
Therefore, the above specimen (RB) is designated as lectotype.
In his original article, Bondar speculates that this taxon is prob-
ably a hybrid between Orbignya speciosa and Maximiliana regia
because it grows in conjunction with these two species. Wessels
Boer, however, refutes this idea because the large uniform popula-
tions he saw in Surinam produced fertile fruits.
The male flowers have twisted and coiled anthers, suggesting
Orbignya, but the petals are flat and curved similar to Parascheelea.
At present, I am not sure of its generic status, but it should be ex-
cluded from A ttalea.
A. excelsa Mart, ex Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 2: 624, 1825; Mart., t. 96
fig. Ill, 1-2, 1826; t. 169, fig. 3, 1845. = Scheelea martiana Burret,
1929, p. 661.
GLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATTALEA 51
Type: Brazil (Martius s.n. — M, not seen)
Burret ( 1929) transferred this species to Scheelea, but was obliged
to give it a new name because Scheelea excelsa Karsten (1857),
based on a different type, was already published. Male flowers were
not mentioned in Martius' original description, however Burret jus-
tified his transfer to Scheelea on the presence of fiber clusters in the
endocarp of the fruit. This is a questionable distinction because
some species ofattalea also have clusters of fibers in the endocarp.
A. humboldtiana Spruce, Journ. Linn. Soc. 11: 163, 1871; Drude,
t. 99, fig. 1, 1881. = Scheelea humboldtiana (Spruce) Burret 1929,
p. 658.
Holotype: Colombia, Banks of the Orinoco, Cassiquiari River
(Spruce 43 - K).
Burret (1929) transferred this species to Scheelea mainly on the
basis of its fruits, but probably also because Drude included it in the
section Pseudoscheelea. Spruce was not sure of the genus because
male flowers were not collected by him. Dugand ( 1955) recognized it
as a good species of Scheelea in his account of Colombian palms,
based mainly on a comparison of Spruce's detailed description with
photographs of this palm growing in abundance along the margins
of the Bajo Guaviare and the Orinoco.
A. insignis (Mart.) Drude, Engl. & Prantl, Naturl. Pflanzenf. II.
3: 80, 1887. Maximiliana insignis Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm. 2: 133, t.
94,1826 = Scheelea insignis ( Mart. ) Karsten 1857, p. 269.
Lectotype: Brazil, Rio Negro, Rio Japura (Martius s.n. — M). c.f.
Dahlgren, 1959, pi. 372.
No specimens were cited in original article, but the specimen men-
tioned above was chosen as lectotype because it contains informa-
tion on the original localities mentioned by Martius.
Karsten (1857) transferred this taxon to the genus Scheelea be-
cause the male flowers have fleshy petals as described and illus-
trated in Martius ( 1826).
A. lydiae (Drude) Barb. Rodr., Sert. Palm. Bras. 1: 65, 1903a=
Orbignya lydiae Drude 1881, P. 448, t. 102.
52 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
Lectotype: Brazil, Cult. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro (Glaziou 9006
— C). c.f. Dahlgren, 1959, pi. 341.
According to Drude's original description and illustration, an-
thers of the male flowers are coiled and inrolled, thus excluding this
species from Attalea.
A. macropetala (Burret) Wessels Boer, Indig. Palms Suriname,
155, 1965; 1972. = Maximiliana macropetala Burret 1929, p. 699.
Holotype: Venezuelan Guiana, Rosalia (Passarge 63-B, de-
stroyed).
Stamens are slightly longer than the petals, therefore this species
probably belongs in. Maximiliana. Wessels Boer ( 1965) says that the
male flower structure of this taxon is intermediate between Scheelea
and Maximiliana,
A. maracaibensis Mart., Palmet. Orbign. 124, 1844; t. 167, fig. 3,
1845; Wessels Boer, 1972. = Scheelea maracaibensis (Mart). Burret
1929, p. 676.
Holotype: Venezuela, Maracaibo (Plee s.n. — P, not seen).
Burret ( 1929) gave no reason for making a new combination under
Scheelea, but it was probably due to the fiber clusters in the endo-
carp of the fruit. Dugand (1941) said this taxon (which was origi-
nally described solely on its fruit) approaches Scheelea butyracea
(Mutis ex L. f. ) Karsten ex Wendl. from the coast of Colombia be-
cause both species have small fruits and are found in adjoining geo-
graphical localities. Wessels Boer (1972) recognizes this as a good
species and keys it out next to Scheelea osmantha for the palms of
Venezuela.
A. maripa (Correa de Serra) Mart., Palmet. Orbign. 123, 1844;
t. 167, fig. 5, 1845; Wessels Boer, 1972. Palma maripa Correa de
Serra 1806, p. 75. = Maximiliana maripa (Correa de Serra) Drude
1881, t. 104.
Type: No type listed or illustrated in original article. Distributed
in the Guianas and Surinam. In male flowers stamens are more than
twice as long as petals, hence this taxon belongs in Maximiliana.
Wessels Boer (1965) considered it synonymous with Attalea regia
(Mart.) Wessels Boer (= M. martiana Karsten), but in 1972 placed
it back into A. maripa.
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATTALEA 53
A. parviflora Barb. Rodr., Bull. Herb. Boiss. ser. 2,3: 625, 1903b.
= Scheelea parviflora ( Barb. Rodr. ) Barb. Rodr. 1903, t. 45A.
Holotype: Paraguay, Concepcion (Hassler 7165 — G).
Descriptions, illustrations, and holotype specimen all demon-
strate that male flowers are fleshy and petals are about twice the
size of the stamens; therefore this taxon belongs in Scheelea.
A. pixuna Barb. Rodr., Enum. Palm. Nov. 43, 1875. = Orbignya
pixuna (Barb. Rodr.) Barb. Rodr., Prot. App. 49, 1879; t. 49, 1903.
Lectotype: Brazil, Rio Tapajoz (t. 49, 1903). c.f. Glassman, 1972,
p. 26.
No specimens were cited by Barbosa Rodrigues, therefore the
above illustration was designated as the lectotype.
According to the description and illustration of Barbosa Rodri-
gues (t. 49), male flowers have twisted petals and coiled stamens;
therefore, this taxon should be excluded from Attalea.
A. princeps Mart., Palmet. Orbign. 113, t. 4, fig. 3, t. 31B, 1844. =
Scheelea princeps (Mart) Karsten 1857, p. 269.
Type: Bolivia, Moxos and Chiquitos (d'Orbigny 16-P, not seen).
A specimen from (M) labelled A. princeps Mart, with no other
data except No. 855 was examined. It consists of a packet of broken
female flowers, and pencilled illustrations of female flowers and
flowers of Cocos botryophora as well.
Both the description and illustration of Martius (t. 3 IB) indicate
that the petals of the male flowers are fleshy and the stamens are
shorter than the petals; hence the transfer to Scheelea by Karsten
appears to be justified.
A. regia (Mart.) Wessels Boer, Indig. Palms Suriname 150, 1965
= Maximiliana martiana Karsten 1857, p. 273.
Type: Brazil (no specimens cited). Based onM. regia Mart., 1826
which is a homonym for M. regia Mart, in Schrank, 1819 (Cochlo-
spermaceae). This species should be excluded from Attalea because
male flowers have fleshy petals which are much shorter than the
stamens.
54 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
A. sagotii (Trail ex Im Thurn) Wessels Boer, Indig. Palms Suri-
name 162, pi. 18. 1965; 1972. = Orbignya sagotii Trail ex Im Thurn
1884, p. 276.
Holotype: French Guiana (Sagot831 — K).
Wessels Boer (1965) transferred the above species to Attalea
because of his lumping all genera in this alliance under Attalea. The
male flowers have incurved petals and coiled stamens, therefore I
am placing A ttalea sagotii back into Orbignya.
A. speciosa Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm. 2: 138 t. 96, fig. 3-6, 1826; t.
169, fig. 4, 1845; Wessels Boer, 1965; 1972.
Orbignya speciosa (Mart.) Barb. Rodr., PI. Nov. Cult. Jard. Bot.
Rio 1: 32. t. 9, fig. B 1-9, 1891; t. 5B, 1896; Burret 1929, t. 9 = O.
barbosiana Burret 1932, p. 690.
Type: Northern Brazil (no specimens cited).
According to descriptions and illustrations, male flowers of this
taxon are characteristic of Orbignya. Moore (1963) says that there
is some confusion as to the application of the name O. speciosa and
hence accepts O. barbosiana as the correct name. Wessels Boer
( 1965) considers O. barbosiana as a superfluous name. Burret ( 1932)
originally gave this taxon a new name because it was confused with
O, cohune as well as other species of Orbignya.
A. spectabilis Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm 2: 136, t. 96, fig. 1-2, 1826;
Wessels Boer, 1965; 1972. = Orbignya spectabilis (Mart.) Burret
1929, p. 508.
Lectotype: Brazil, Para (Martins s.n. — M). c.f. Burret, 1929,
p. 508.
According to Wessels Boer (1965), male flowers have curved
petals and coiled stamens; therefore, the taxon should be excluded
from Attalea, The same author, however, says that male flowers are
of the Markleya type since there are only 6-9 stamens, and uses this
example as further evidence for lumping the six allied genera into
one large genus, A ttalea.
A. spectabilis var. polyandra Drude, Mart. Fl. Bras. 3: 440, 1881.
Superfluous name. = Orbignya pixuna (Barb. Rodr.) Barb. Rodr.,
1882, p. 29.
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATTALEA 55
Drude (1881) apparently described the above taxon as a new vari-
ety, but he also listed Attalea pixuna Barb. Rodr., in synonymy.
Therefore, the name is superfluous because the epithet pixuna
should have been used for the variety name instead of polyandra.
A. transitiva Barb. Rodr. Prot. App. 49, 1879; Les Palmiers 29,
1882. Superfluous name.
This is a superfluous name for Attalea attaleoides (which has
male flowers like Scheelea and has been previously discussed). After
describing Maximiliana attaleoides as a new species in 1875, Bar-
bosa Rodrigues (1879, 1882) decided that it was a transitional spe-
cies between this genus and Attalea. Therefore, he renamed it At-
talea transitiva.
A. wallisii Huber, Bull. Herb. Boiss. Ser. 2, 6: 267, 1906 = Schee-
lea wallisii (Huber) Burret 1929, p. 657.
Type: Brazil, Amazonas, Rio Purus (no specimens cited).
Original description by Huber is mainly a comparison of charac-
ters with A. humboldtiana which it most closely resembles.
Burret probably transferred the species to Scheelea because of its
close resemblance to A. humboldtiana (see previous discussion).
In 1934 he gave S. wallisii a rather lengthy description, except for
male flowers, and cited the following specimen which I have seen:
Brazil, Rio Purus, at mouth of Rio Acre (A. Ducke, Com. G. Hueb-
ner!63 — B).
ATTALEA
DOUBTFUL OR UNCERTAIN SPECIES
A. agrestis Barb. Rodr., Enum. Palm. Nov. 42, 1875; Sert. Palm.
Bras. 1: t. 55, 1903a. Orbignya agrestis (Barb. Rodr.) Burret 1929.
Lectotype: Brazil, R. Uauincha (t. 55). c.f. Glassman, 1972, p. 22.
Barbosa Rodrigues 324 was cited in the original article, but his
specimen could not be found. Therefore, I designated the above
illustration as the lectotype. It is difficult to determine the genus
56 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
because male flowers are not mentioned in the description and not
shown in t. 55. Burret (1929) transferred this species to Orbignya
because of its resemblance to O. sabulosa Barb. Rodr.
A. blepharopus Mart., Palmet. Orbign. 116, t. 5, fig. 2, t. 31C,
1844; Hist. Nat. Palm. 3: t. 167, 1845. Scheelea blepharopus (Mart.)
Burret 1929, p. 674.
Type: Bolivia (d'Orbigny 34 — P? not seen).
Burret (1929) transferred this species to Scheelea without expla-
nation but probably because male flowers were described as fleshy
by Martius (1844). Male flowers illustrated by Martius (t. 167), how-
ever, do not definitely indicate this t'eature. Since no other speci-
mens (besides the type) have been collected which can be attributed
to this taxon, it should be considered an uncertain species.
A. goeldiana Huber, Bull. Herb. Boiss. ser. 2, 6: 268, 1906. Schee-
lea goeldiana (Huber) Burret 1929, p. 658.
Type: Brazil, Rio Acre (no specimens cited).
I am considering this species as doubtful because Huber's de-
scription is woefully inadequate and for the lack of illustrations.
Burret probably transferred it to Scheelea because Huber placed it
in section Pseudoscheelea Drude of the genus A ttalea.
A. gomphococca Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm. 3: 301, t. 167, fig. 6,
1845. Scheelea gomphococca (Mart.) Burret 1929, p. 666.
Lectotype: Central America (t. 167, fig. 6). c.f. Classman, 1972,
p. 24.
Since Martius' original description and illustration is based
mainly on the fruit, and since the exact locality is in doubt, it would
be difficult to delimit this taxon with any degree of confidence.
Apparently, Burret had no basis for transferring it to Scheelea
because the male flowers were not described.
A. hoehnei Burret, Notizbl. 10: 522, 1929.
Holotype: Brazil, Mato Grosso — Acre, Agua Limpa, Campo (F.
C. Hoehne 2196 — SP?, not seen).
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATT ALE A 57
Entire description of Burret indicates this taxon is probably
based on immature specimens. Size of the pinnae, male spadix,
rachillae, and male flowers are all very small for this genus, and
hence difficult to compare with other species.
A. lapidea (Gaertner) Burret, Notizbl. 10: 533, 1929. Cocos
lapidea Gaertner, Fruct. Sem. PL 1: 16, t. 6, fig. 1. 1788.
Lectotype: Brazil, Bahia (t. 6, fig. 1, 1788). c.f. Glassman, 1972,
p. 91.
Burret placed this palm close to A. funifera, based on the similar-
ity of the fruits; however, it should be considered as species dubia
because there is virtually no information on the leaves, spathes,
spadices, flowers, or size of the plant.
A. microcarpa Mart., Palmet. Orbign. 125, 1844; t. 168, fig. 2,
1845; t. Z16, fig. 5, 1849. Orbignya microcarpa (Mart.) Burret 1929,
p. 507.
Type: Brazil, Para (Martius s.n. — M, not seen).
The description and illustrations are insufficient for determina-
tion (neither leaves nor male flowers are mentioned), but Burret
thought it may be an Orbignya. No specimens were cited by Mar-
tius, however, according to Burret the fruiting spadix illustrated by
Martius (t. 168) was preserved in the Munich collections. Neverthe-
less, this name should be relegated to species dubium because even
the genus to which it belongs is uncertain.
A. monosperma Barb. Rodr., Enum. Palm. Nov. 42, 1875; t. 57A,
1903a. A. spectabilis var. monosperma (Barb. Rodr.) Drude 1881, p.
440.
Lectotype: Brazil, Para (t. 57A, 1903). c.f. Glassman, 1972, p. 25.
Burret (1929) says this palm may be an Orbignya, but different
than O. spectabilis. Male flowers were neither described nor illus-
trated by Barbosa Rodrigues or Drude, hence determination of the
genus is doubtful. No specimens were cited by Barbosa Rodrigues,
but Drude listed Sagot 601 and 831 from French Guiana. The latter
specimen (Sagot 831) is part of the type collection of Orbignya
sagotii, previously discussed.
58 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 38
A. phalerata Mart, ex Sprengel, Syst. Veg. 2: 624, 1825; Martius
1844, p. 123; 1845, t. 169 fig. 5 =? Scheelea phalerata (Mart, ex
Sprengel) Burret 1929, p. 669.
Type: Brazil, Goias (no specimens cited).
Described without male flowers in all three of Martius' articles,
but Burret assumed that this taxon was conspecific with S. corum-
baensis (Barb. Rodr.) Barb. Rodr.
A. racemosa Spruce, Journ. Linn. Soc. 11: 166, 1871; Wessels
Boer, 1972. Orbignya racemosa (Spruce) Drude 1881, p. 448.
Holotype: Venezuela, Rio Negro (Spruce 54 — K; P, isotype).
Male flowers are not described in either article by Spruce ( 1871) or
Drude (1881), nor are male flowers present in the type specimens
(cited above); therefore, the genus to which this taxon belongs is
doubtful. Wessels Boer (1972), however, equates A. racemosa with
A. ferruginea. At present, I cannot accept this designation without
further study.
A. rhynchocarpa Burret, Notizbl, 12, 617. 1935; Dugand, 1940,
1954,
Type: Colombia, Rio Frio, bei Salonique (Dryander s.n. — B,
destroyed?).
The description for this taxon is woefully incomplete. Neither
male nor female spathes, spadices or flowers, nor length and width
of pinnae are described; hence, Dugand ( 1954) lists -A. rhynchocarpa
as an insufficiently known species for the Attaleas of Colombia.
A. rostrata Oersted, Vidensk. Meddel. Kjoeb. 1858: 50, 1859.
Scheelea rostrata (Oersted) Burret 1929, p. 688.
Type: Costa Rica, Puntarenas (no specimens cited or illustrations
in either article).
A condensed description by Oersted is: Trunk 15-20 ft. high,
leaves 12-15 ft. long, pinnae 3 ft. long, 2 in. wide, spathes 5-6 ft.
long. Burret probably transferred this species to Scheelea because
Oersted said it resembled -A. blepharopus which Burret also consid-
ered to be in that genus.
CLASSMAN: PALM GENUS ATTALEA 59
Because of the lack of pertinent information, I am placing A ttalea
ro strata in the uncertain category.
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA