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 Jacq.
Synonyms
Bactris ovata Stokes (nom. illeg.) Augustinea major (Jacq.) H.Karst. Pyrenoglyphis major (Jacq.) H.Karst. (of Bactris major)[1] Bactris chaetorhachis Mart. Bactris minax Miq. Augustinea balanoidea Oerst. Augustinea ovata Oerst. Bactris cruegeriana Griseb. Pyrenoglyphis balanoidea (Oerst.) H.Karst. Pyrenoglyphis ovata (Oerst.) H.Karst. Bactris balanoidea (Oerst.) H.Wendl. Bactris ovata (Oerst.) H.Wendl. (nom. illeg.) Bactris megalocarpa Trail ex Thurn Bactris ottostapfiana Barb.Rodr. Bactris augustinea L.H.Bailey Bactris superior L.H.Bailey Pyrenoglyphis chaetorhachis (Mart.) Burret Pyrenoglyphis ottostapfiana (Barb.Rodr.) Burret Pyrenoglyphis superior (L.H.Bailey) Burret Bactris albonotata L.H.Bailey Bactris beata L.H.Bailey Bactris broadwayi L.H.Bailey Bactris cateri L.H.Bailey Bactris ellipsoidalis L.H.Bailey Bactris obovoidea L.H.Bailey Bactris planifolia L.H.Bailey Bactris swabeyi L.H.Bailey Bactris demerarana L.H.Bailey Pyrenoglyphis cruegeriana (Griseb.) H.Karst. Bactris major var. megalocarpa (Trail ex Thurn) A.J.Hend. (of Bactris major var. major)[2] Bactris infesta Mart. Pyrenoglyphis infesta (Mart.) Burret Bactris exaltata Barb.Rodr. Bactris nemorosa Barb.Rodr. Bactris socialis subsp. curuena Trail Bactris socialis subsp. gaviona Trail Bactris curuena (Trail) Trail ex Drude Bactris gaviona (Trail) Trail ex Drude Bactris chapadensis Barb.Rodr. Bactris major var. mattogrossensis Kuntze Bactris mattogrossensis Barb.Rodr. Pyrenoglyphis chapadensis (Barb.Rodr.) Burret Pyrenoglyphis curuena (Trail) Burret Pyrenoglyphis exaltata (Barb.Rodr.) Burret Pyrenoglyphis gaviona (Trail) Burret Pyrenoglyphis mattogrossensis (Barb.Rodr.) Burret Pyrenoglyphis nemorosa (Barb.Rodr.) Burret (of Bactris major var. infesta)[3] Bactris socialis Mart. Pyrenoglyphis socialis (Mart.) Burret (of Bactris major var. socialis)[4]

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

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.