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arranged rachillae, each rachilla subtended by an acute bracteole and with an axillary pulvinus; peduncles
3.5(1.6–12.4) mm wide; peduncular bracts 26.3(16.5–34.0) cm long, broad, sparsely to densely covered with
short, markedly swollen-based, diagonally oriented spines, these triangular in cross-section, whitish-brown
proximally, brown distally, with tomentose margins, rarely spines few or absent; rachillae 15(5–37), glabrous
or scarcely tomentose initially; proximal rachillae 7.4(3.3–13.0) cm long, 1.1(0.6–2.0) mm wide; stamens 5–
6; fruits 16.4(11.2–23.5) mm long, 11.9(7.9–17.9) mm wide, the surfaces smooth, without any apparent
subepidermal fibers; fruiting corollas less than one quarter as long as fruits, splitting irregularly into 3 lobes,
the lobes often splitting again; endocarps globose to obovoid with rounded apices, the pores lateral, not
equidistant, the sterile pores closer latitudinally.
Distribution and habitat:—From 10°37’N–21°31’S and 35°09’–78°38’W in Trinidad, Venezuela, the
Guianas, Brazil (including the Atlantic Coastal Forest), Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia at 205(0–1000)
m elevation in a variety of habitats including lowland rainforest on terra firme, flooded forest, campina,
restinga, or scrub forest near the sea (Fig. 11). Read (1979) also included the Lesser Antillean island of St.
Vincent in the distribution of this species, but only one, sterile specimen from there has been seen. There is
another specimen at P labelled “Martinique” but without more precise locality.
FIGURE 11. Distribution maps of Desmoncus polyacanthos, D. prunifer, D. pumilus, and D. setosus.
Taxonomic notes:—Desmoncus polyacanthos Martius was emended by Drude (1881) and excluded by
Burret (1934). However there seems no reason for these designations. Martius’s (1823–1837) description and
illustration, based on an extant type collected by Martius himself, perfectly represent this widespread species.
A REVISION OF DESMONCUS (ARECACEAE)
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