Attalea phalerata
Species of palm
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Attalea phalerata is a species of palm tree known by the English common name urucuri palm, the Portuguese common name urucurizeiro, and the Spanish common name shapaja.[2] Other common names include motacu[3] and bacuri.[4] It is native to Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru,[1][2] where it grows along southern and western Amazonia.[5] It is the most common palm tree on the Pantanal.[6]
| Attalea phalerata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Attalea |
| Species: | A. phalerata |
| Binomial name | |
| Attalea phalerata | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
Ecology
This palm species is of ecological importance and grows in many types of forest; individuals become fertile at 7–10 years of age (1 m height).[7] Flowering occurs throughout the year and fruiting twice per year.[7] The seeds are dispersed by tapirs, which swallow the fruits whole,[9] and by rheas, agoutis, spiny rats of genus Clyomys, and caracaras. The hyacinth macaw consumes the seeds and may disperse them, as well.[4] The sheaths of the palm often accumulate the seeds of other plants, which are sometimes deposited there by Artibeus jamaicensis, a frugivorous bat. The seeds sometimes germinate there and grow as epiphytes on the palm tree.[6] This palm tree is commonly pollinated by sap beetles of genus Mystrops and weevils of tribe Madarini.[10] The weevil Pachymerus cardo is known to be a seed predator on this species.[9] Rhodinus stali, an insect which is a vector of Chagas disease, may infest this tree.[3]