Bactris major

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 Jacq.
Synonyms
Bactris ovata Stokes (nom. illeg.) Augustinea major (Jacq.) H.Karst. Pyrenoglyphis major (Jacq.) H.Karst. (of Bactris major)[1] Bactris chaetorhachisMart.Bactris minaxMiq.Augustinea balanoideaOerst.Augustinea ovataOerst.Bactris cruegerianaGriseb.Pyrenoglyphis balanoidea(Oerst.) H.Karst.Pyrenoglyphis ovata(Oerst.) H.Karst.Bactris balanoidea(Oerst.) H.Wendl.Bactris ovata(Oerst.) H.Wendl. (nom. illeg.)Bactris megalocarpaTrail ex ThurnBactris ottostapfianaBarb.Rodr.Bactris augustineaL.H.BaileyBactris superiorL.H.BaileyPyrenoglyphis chaetorhachis(Mart.) BurretPyrenoglyphis ottostapfiana(Barb.Rodr.) BurretPyrenoglyphis superior(L.H.Bailey) BurretBactris albonotataL.H.BaileyBactris beataL.H.BaileyBactris broadwayiL.H.BaileyBactris cateriL.H.BaileyBactris ellipsoidalisL.H.BaileyBactris obovoideaL.H.BaileyBactris planifoliaL.H.BaileyBactris swabeyiL.H.BaileyBactris demeraranaL.H.BaileyPyrenoglyphis cruegeriana(Griseb.) H.Karst.Bactris major var. megalocarpa(Trail ex Thurn) A.J.Hend. (of Bactris major var. major)[2] Bactris infestaMart.Pyrenoglyphis infesta(Mart.) BurretBactris exaltataBarb.Rodr.Bactris nemorosaBarb.Rodr.Bactris socialis subsp. curuenaTrailBactris socialis subsp. gavionaTrailBactris curuena(Trail) Trail ex DrudeBactris gaviona(Trail) Trail ex DrudeBactris chapadensisBarb.Rodr.Bactris major var. mattogrossensisKuntzeBactris mattogrossensisBarb.Rodr.Pyrenoglyphis chapadensis(Barb.Rodr.) BurretPyrenoglyphis curuena(Trail) BurretPyrenoglyphis exaltata(Barb.Rodr.) BurretPyrenoglyphis gaviona(Trail) BurretPyrenoglyphis mattogrossensis(Barb.Rodr.) BurretPyrenoglyphis nemorosa(Barb.Rodr.) Burret (of Bactris major var. infesta)[3] Bactris socialisMart. Pyrenoglyphis socialis(Mart.) Burret (of Bactris major var. socialis)[4]

Bactris major is a small to medium-sized (1–10 m tall) spinypalm 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]

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]

Gallery of images

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References

1. "Bactris major". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Archived from the original on 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
2. "Bactris major var. major". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Archived from the original on 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
3. "Bactris major var. infesta (Mart.) Drude". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
4. "Bactris major var. socialis (Mart.) Drude". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
5. 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.
6. "Bactris major var. megalocarpa (Trail ex Thurn) A.J.Hend". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.