Palm Trees - Bactris major

Bactris major

Click thumbnails to view fullsize image.

Bactris major at The Palmetum of Santa Cruz, Tenerfie - April 2007






General Information
Family:
Arecaceae
Common Names:
Lata Palm
Synonyms:
Augustinea major
Bactris ovata
Pyrenoglyphis major
Distribution:
Trinidad
Mexico To South Tropical America
Habitat:
Low Elevation
Dry Forest & Rainforest
Coastal Or Near Water
Conservation Status:
Habitat Threats:

Native Uses:
Fruit Fermentation
Commercial Uses:

Physical Characteristics
Height:
Up to 10m (32ft)
Spread:
Up to 5m (16ft)
Growth Habit:
Clumping
Growth Rate:
Medium
Trunk Type:
No Crownshaft
Dark Brown Long Spines
Trunk Diameter:
Up to 60mm (2.5")
Leaf Type:
Pinnate
Leaf Size:
Up to 1.8m (6ft)
Leaf Colour:
Bright Green
Petiole:
Up to 1500mm (60")
Armed
Self Cleaning:
Yes
Inflorescence Colour:
Pale Yellow
Reproduction:
Monoecious
Fruit Description:
Up to 45mm (1.8")
Ellipsoid To Obovoid
Fruit Colour:
Dark Red, Purple

Cultural Requirements
Light:
Full Sun
Soil:
Moist
Well Draining
Watering:
Frequent
Maintain Moisture
Min. Temp:
-3°C (27°F)
Tolerances:
Poor Soils
Salt
Some Shade
Propagation:
Seed
Clump Separation
Germination:
1-6 Months
28-32°C ( 82-90°F)
Planting:
Borders
Sheltered Areas
Uses:
Hedging
Screening
Specimen
Availability:
Rarely Available
Specialist Nurseries
Seed Distributors

References: IUCN 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 14 December 2004.
Kew World Checklist Of Selected Plant Families. <www.kew.org/wcsp/home.do>
Maas, P. J. M. & H. Maas-van de Kamer. Costaceae. Pp. 413-423 in, B. E. Hammel, M. H. Grayum, C. Herrera, & N. Zamora (eds.), Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica. vol. II. Gimnospermas y monocotiledóneas (Agavaceae- Musaceae). Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 92: 1-694.
Noblick, L.R. Ph.D., 1998. Hardiness Observations In Palm Species. <www.bg-map.com/PLMTBLA.HTML>
Riffle,R.L. & Craft,P. 2003. An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms.