Bactris major is a small to medium-sized (1–10 m tall) spiny palm which ranges from Mexico, through Central America into northern South America and Trinidad.[5][1] The species is divided into three[1] or four[5] varieties, although the boundaries between varieties is not always clearly defined.[5]

The fruits are eaten or used to flavour drinks.[5]

Spanish names for the palm species include marayaú.

Varieties

Rafaël Govaerts recognised three varieties:

  • Bactris major var. major[2]
  • Bactris major var. infesta (Mart.) Drude[3]
  • Bactris major var. socialis (Mart.) Drude[4]

Andrew Henderson and co-authors recognised a fourth variety, Bactris major var. megalocarpa (Trail ex Thurn) A.J.Hend.,[5] but Govaerts considered this to be a synonym of Bactris major var. major.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Bactris major". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Archived from the original on 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  2. ^ a b "Bactris major var. major". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Archived from the original on 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  3. ^ a b "Bactris major var. infesta (Mart.) Drude". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  4. ^ a b "Bactris major var. socialis (Mart.) Drude". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  5. ^ a b c d e Henderson, Andrew; Gloria Galeano; Rodrigo Bernal (1995). Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-08537-4.
  6. ^ "Bactris major var. megalocarpa (Trail ex Thurn) A.J.Hend". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2007-09-08.