Pholidostachys synanthera subsp. synanthera Information

Pholidostachys synanthera subsp. synanthera Information

Identification:
Stems 3.9(1.8-6.0) m long, 5.6(3.0-22.0) cm diameter, solitary. Leaves 15(4-27) per stem; sheaths 32.8(15.0-74.0) cm long; petioles 70.1(24.0-136.0) cm long; rachises 92.2(55.0�-124.0) cm long, 8.1(3.6-12.6) mm diameter; pinnae 12(7-18) per side of rachis; basal pinna 49.6(26.5-67.5) cm, long, 1.7(0.2-7.6) cm wide, forming an angle of 50(27-72)� with the rachis; apical pinna 45.0(23.0-65.0) cm long, 10.5(2.5-22.5) cm wide, forming an angle of 15(9-24)� with the rachis. Inflorescences branched 1-2 orders, with a welldeveloped peduncle and rachis, and several rachillae, these spreading at anthesis; prophylls and peduncular bracts woody, not covering rachillae at anthesis; prophylls 38.0(25.5-55.0) cm long; peduncular bracts 32.1(19.0-41.0) cm long, inserted 8.6(5.0-12.5) cm above the prophyll; peduncles 44.8(20.0-70.0) cm long, 11.4(5.3-19.1) mm diameter; rachilla 12(4-25), 28.5(14.0-56.0) cm long, 6.1(3.7-10.3) mm diameter; proximal lips of flower pits regularly shaped, rounded, not covering pits before anthesis, recurved fruits scarcely compressed, ellipsoid, with obscure longitudinal ridges, 14.3(10.2-17.7) mm long, 8.4(6.1-10.5) mm diameter.

General Information:
There are two geographically separate populations on eastern Andean slopes at 1040(400-1620) m elevation; and on the Cordilleras Central and Oriental in Colombia at 1206(550-1750) m elevation. Only three variables (rachis length, number of divisions, apical pinna angle) are significantly different between the two Andean populations.

Distribution:

Native to, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

From 7&geg;19'N-13&geg;31'S and 70&geg;07'-78&geg;57'W in the Cordilleras Central and Oriental in Colombia and eastern Andean slopes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru at 1064(400-1750) m elevation in lowland or montane rainforest.

Location: Ecuador (-3.288233°N, -78.398438°E)

Observations