Bactris concinna
Bactris concinna
The tussock palm (Bactris concinna Mart., 1826) is an arboreal species belonging to the Arecaceae family.
Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Subkingdom Tracheobionta,
Spermatophyta superdivision,
Magnoliophyta division,
Class Liliopsida,
Arecales Order,
Arecaceae family,
Subfamily Arecoideae,
Tribe Cocoseae,
Subtribe Bactridinae,
Genus Bactris,
Species B. concinna.
The terms are synonyms:
– Bactris concinna subsp. depauperata Trail;
– Bactris concinna var. concinna;
– Bactris concinna var. depauperata (Trail) Drude;
– Bactris concinna var. depauperata Mart.;
– Bactris concinna var. inundata Spruce;
– Pyrenoglyphis concinna (Mart.) Burret;
– Pyrenoglyphis concinna var. depauperata (Trail) Burret;
– Pyrenoglyphis concinna var. inundata (Spruce) Burret.
Etymology –
The term Bactris comes from the Greek βάκτρον báctron stick (for walking and support): because sticks are made with the stem of plants of this genus.
The specific concinna epithet comes from the Latin concinnus, a, um, that is, elegant.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The Bactris concinna is a palm native to an area which includes Bolivia, north-western Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Its habitat is lowland rainforests, usually along river margins and other wetlands, predominantly along streams and in periodically flooded areas, at low altitudes (at 100-260 m elevation), where the plant forms dense tufts.
Description –
The Bactris concinna is a monoecious palm, evergreen, with bushy stems which form small tufts, 1-4 (7-8) meters tall, of 1,5-2 cm of diameter, erect or often hanging, thorny on the internodes.
The leaves are 3-10 in a crown; they have scattered foliar spines, black or brownish, terete, up to 2 cm long, interspersed with a few spines up to 10 cm long, dense on the lateral margins of the sheath and of the petiole, few or absent on the rachis; sheath 18-50 cm long, fibrous at the edges; ocreate up to 15 cm in length; petiole 12-74 cm long; rachis 0.9-2 m long; auricles 16-52 per side, regularly arranged, lying on the same plane, linear, with spinules on the edges, with metallic reflections when dried; the central pavilion is 15-52 x 1-2 cm.
The inflorescences are in an interleaved position, initially enclosed in a spathe, 25-40 cm long, covered by thorns, with unisexual flowers generally arranged in triad (a female flower between two male ones), the female flowers ripen before the male ones favoring the cross pollination.
The fruits are ovoid in shape, edible, of a blackish purple colour, 2-4 cm long and 1-2 cm of diameter, inside which there is only one seed.
Cultivation –
Bactris concinna is an evergreen palm that is harvested from the wild for the local use of its edible fruit. The fruit is also often sold in local markets.
This palm has great ornamental and landscaping value; it has a relatively fast growth, suitable for parks and gardens of the tropical and humid subtropical climate zones, to be positioned far from the transit and parking places due to the thick thorns which cover it.
The plant is to be cultivated in sunny zones, except in the initial phase of growth, or in partial shade, in draining soils, kept constantly humid, with acid or neutral pH; in seasonal climates it is to be irrigated regularly and abundantly during the dry season.
The plant reproduces by seed, in a draining substratum rich in organic substance kept constantly humid at 26-28 °C, with germination times of 5-6 months. It can also reproduce asexually by division.
Customs and Traditions –
Bactris concinna is a palm that is known by various names in the areas where it grows in the wild. Among these we remember: marayaù (Bolivia); marajá, marajá pupunha, mumbaca (Brazil); caña brava, marayá (Colombia); chontilla (Ecuador); neja, ñejilla, palmera cespitosa, uyainim (Peru).
The fruits of this palm are eaten and are also used as sweets.
The fruits, with a pleasant taste, are sometimes sold in local markets, not only for human consumption but also for animal consumption.
The stems are used as posts for the fences, in the coverings, together with the leaves, of permanent or makeshift shelters and for objects of common use.
The roots, on the other hand, are used in popular medicine, as a decoction, in diseases related to colds.
Method of Preparation –
The Bactris concinna is a very ornamental palm which in the countries of origin is however mainly used for other purposes.
The outer layer of the stem is used as a ford in the compression of gunpowder in muzzle-loading rifles.
The edible fruit, which is carried in clusters 25 cm long, weighing about 2.3 kg, is gathered along the banks of rivers and black water streams and in marshes. Before the fruits ripen, children sometimes pick them to eat the embryo, which is still soft.
The fruits are occasionally presented in regional markets and are also used to feed livestock.
Small flakes are made for hunting mice.
In the medicinal field, a decoction is prepared, obtained from the adventitious roots, which is drunk to treat colds and coughs.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Bactris_concinna
Attention: The pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; we therefore decline all responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.