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and in Martius (1823–1837) as “fluvii Solimoës”, presumably in Brazil (Amazonas). All the specimens cited
here come from further west than the most westward point of Martius’ journey in modern-day Colombia, with
the exception of Aguirre-Galviz 1152 from Colombia (Amazonas).
12.2. Desmoncus mitis subsp. ecirratus Henderson, subsp. nov. (Appendix IV Plate 16)
A subspeciebus aliis pinnis paucis ovatis atque cirro normaliter absenti differt.
Type:—BRAZIL. Rondônia: road to casserite mine, north bank of Rio Madeira in Serra dos Tres Irmãos 8 km above
Mutumparaná, 5 July 1968, G. Prance, E. Forero, L. Coêlho, J. Ramos & L. Farias 5636 (holotype INPA!, isotype
NY!).
Leaf sheaths non-spiny, rarely sparsely spiny; rachises 20.9(8.0–41.0) cm long; pinnae ovate, 3(2–5) per side
of rachis; cirri usually absent, the rachis terminating beyond the distalmost pair of pinnae in a short ‘stub’.
Distribution and habitat:—From 3°30’–10°58’S and 56°00’–73°14’W in the south–central Amazon
region of Peru (Ucayali), Brazil (Acre, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Rondônia) and Bolivia (Beni, Pando) with
an outlier in Peru (Loreto) at 177(120–300) m elevation in lowland rainforest (Fig. 9).
Taxonomic notes:—This taxon was mistakenly referred to by Henderson (1995) as Desmoncus mitis var.
leptoclonos, based on D. leptoclonos Dammer. However, this name is pre-occupied by D. leptoclonos Drude.
Subspecific variation:—The outlying specimen (Asplund 14687) from Loreto, Peru, has much wider
pinnae than other specimens. Some specimens are described on labels as being non–climbers. On some
specimens (e.g., Moreno 163, Schunke 15033, Nee 34990, Forero 6384) there are some leaves with weakly
developed cirri as well as leaves with the more usual poorly-developed cirri; on a few other specimens there
are weakly developed cirri. Specimens from the eastern part of the range, from eastern Acre, Rondônia, Mato
Grosso, and adjacent Bolivia usually have 2 pinnae per side of the shorter rachis, and these have very few
spinules at the bases. Specimens from the western part of the range, from western Acre and adjacent Peru tend
to have 3 pinnae per side of the longer rachis, and usually have spinulose pinnae bases. These specimens
overlap with those of D. mitis subsp. leptospadix.
12.3. Desmoncus mitis subsp. leptospadix (Martius) Henderson, comb. & stat. nov.
Basionym: Desmoncus leptospadix Martius (1844: 52). Atitara leptospadix (Martius) Kuntze (1891: 727). Desmoncus
mitis var. leptospadix (Martius) Henderson (1995: 228). Type:—PERU. Loreto: Maynas, Yurimaguas, no date, E.
Poeppig 2207 (holotype G n.v., holotype image!). Epitype (here designated):—PERU. Loreto: Santa Rosa, lower
Río Huallaga below Yurimaguas, ca. 125 m, 1–5 September 1929, E. Killip & A. Smith 28807 (epitype NY!,
isoepitype US!).
Leaf sheaths non-spiny, rarely sparsely spiny; rachises 35.0(17.2–76.0) cm long; pinnae ovate, 6(3–11) per
side of rachis; cirri usually well-developed.
Distribution and habitat:—From 0°52’–11°46’S and 59°00’–77°40’W in the western Amazon region in
Colombia (Amazonas), Peru (Amazonas, Cuzco, Huánuco, Loreto, Ucayali), and Brazil (Acre, Amazonas) at
166(100–400) m elevation in lowland rainforest (Fig. 9).
Taxonomic notes:—Henderson (1995) referred to this taxon as Desmoncus mitis var. leptospadix
(Martius) Henderson, based on D. leptospadix Martius. The type of this is sterile and an epitype is therefore
designated.
Subspecific variation:—Most specimens from Maynas, Loreto, Peru have multiple (2–3) inflorescences
at a node. Two specimens (Prance 12310, 12490), both from the same locality in western Acre, Brazil have
larger fruits than usual; others from the same area have normal fruits. Most specimens from western Acre
have smaller leaves than usual. A few specimens from the western part of the range have spiny peduncular
A REVISION OF DESMONCUS (ARECACEAE)
Phytotaxa 35 © 2011 Magnolia Press 33