genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of palms in the family
Arecaceae
The Arecaceae () is a family (biology), family of perennial plant, perennial, flowering plants in the Monocotyledon, monocot order Arecales. Their growth form can be climbing palm, climbers, shrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly k ...
, native to the
South American
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...
countries of
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
,
Paraguay
Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...
,
Uruguay
Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the RÃo de la Plata to the south and the A ...
and
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families /ref> Many species produce edible fruits, which are sometimes used to make alcoholic beverages and other foods. The name is derived from a Brazilian vernacular word for members of the genus.
Description
These are 'feather palms', having
pinnate
Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, and ...
leaves
A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...
up to 3m long including petiole which usually have a distinct downward arch. The species vary from nearly stemless plants rarely exceeding 40 cm tall (e.g. ''
Butia campicola
''Butia campicola'' is a very small species of ''Butia'' Arecaceae, palm with an underground stem, underground trunk; native to the cerrados of central Paraguay and south-central Brazil.
Etymology and common names
The species epithet ''campico ...
'') to small trees up to 12m tall (e.g. '' B. yatay'').
''
Butia odorata
''Butia odorata'', also known as the South American jelly palm, jelly palm, or pindo palm, is a ''Butia'' Arecaceae, palm native to southernmost Brazil and Uruguay.
This slow-growing palm grows up to 10m, although it is often less tall. It is id ...
'' is notable as one of the hardiest feather palms, tolerating temperatures down to about −10 °C; it is widely cultivated in warm temperate to subtropical regions.
Species
Accepted species:
No longer accepted species:
* '' Butia missionera'' Deble & Marchiori - Rio Grande do Sul
* '' Butia noblickii'' Deble -
Corrientes Province
Corrientes (, ‘currents’ or ‘streams’; ), officially the Province of Corrientes (; ) is a Provinces of Argentina, province in northeast Argentina, in the Mesopotamia, Argentina, Mesopotamia region. It is surrounded by (from the north, cl ...
of Argentina
* '' Butia quaraimana'' Deble & Marchiori - Rio Grande do Sul
* '' Butia stolonifera'' (Barb.Rodr.) Becc. - Uruguay
New species:
* '' Butia poni'' (Haum.) Burret -
Misiones Province
Misiones (, ''Missions'') is one of the Provinces of Argentina, 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the northeastern corner of the country in the Mesopotamia, Argentina, Mesopotamia region. It is surrounded by Paraguay to the northwest, Brazil ...
of Argentina
* ''Butia'' sp. nov. - Mato Grosso do Sul
Syagrus romanzoffiana
''Syagrus romanzoffiana'', the queen palm, cocos palm or Jerivá, is a palm native to South America, introduced throughout the world as a popular ornamental garden tree. ''S. romanzoffiana'' is a medium-sized palm, quickly reaching maturity at ...
'')
* '' × Butyagrus nabonnandii'' (Prosch.) Vorster (''B. odorata'' × ''S. romanzoffiana'')
*'' x Butyagrus eriospatha'' N. Kembry (''B. eriospatha'' x ''S. romanzoffiana'' 'Santa Catarina')