Aiphanes lindeniana
Encyclopedia
Aiphanes lindeniana is a species of palm
that is endemic to Colombia
. Although widespread in the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central, it is threatened by habitat loss and forest management practices.
up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long. Individuals are usually multi-stemmed, with up to 10 stems, but occasionally are single-stemmed. Stems bear 4 to 10 leaves which consists of a leaf sheath, a petiole
and a rachis
. Leaf sheaths, which wrap around the stem, are 15 to 42 cm (5.9 to 16.5 ) long and are densely covered with black spines up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long. Petioles are 6 to 56 cm (2.4 to 22 ) long, and are covered with spines up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long. Rachises are 38 to 172 cm (15 to 67.7 ) and covered with spines. Leaves each bear 18 to 48 pairs of leaflets.
The male flowers, which are white to violet in colour, are 2 to 3 mm (0.078740157480315 to 0.118110236220472 ) long. The female flowers are slightly larger—3 millimetre long. The fruit are red or orange 14 millimetre in diameter.
in 1857 as Martinezia lindeniana. In 1878 Wendland transferred it to the genus Aiphanes.
. It is widely distributed along the Cordilleras Occidental and Central in humid, high-elevation forests. Although it is often spared when areas are deforested
, it appears to be unable to reproduce by seed in these areas. Due to expanding agriculture and forestry operations in its native range, it is considered a vulnerable species
.
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
that is endemic to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. Although widespread in the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central, it is threatened by habitat loss and forest management practices.
Description
Aiphanes lindeniana is a small palm 1.5 to 7 m (4.9 to 23 ft) tall with stems 3 to 7 cm (1.2 to 2.8 ) in diameter, sometimes up to 10 cm (3.9 in) which are covered with black spinesThorns, spines, and prickles
In botanical morphology, thorns, spines, and prickles are hard structures with sharp, or at least pointed, ends. In spite of this common feature, they differ in their growth and development on the plant; they are modified versions of different plant organs, stems, stipules, leaf veins, or hairs...
up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long. Individuals are usually multi-stemmed, with up to 10 stems, but occasionally are single-stemmed. Stems bear 4 to 10 leaves which consists of a leaf sheath, a petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
and a rachis
Rachis
Rachis is a biological term for a main axis or "shaft".-In zoology:In vertebrates a rachis can refer to the series of articulated vertebrae, which encase the spinal cord. In this case the rachis usually form the supporting axis of the body and is then called the spine or vertebral column...
. Leaf sheaths, which wrap around the stem, are 15 to 42 cm (5.9 to 16.5 ) long and are densely covered with black spines up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long. Petioles are 6 to 56 cm (2.4 to 22 ) long, and are covered with spines up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long. Rachises are 38 to 172 cm (15 to 67.7 ) and covered with spines. Leaves each bear 18 to 48 pairs of leaflets.
The male flowers, which are white to violet in colour, are 2 to 3 mm (0.078740157480315 to 0.118110236220472 ) long. The female flowers are slightly larger—3 millimetre long. The fruit are red or orange 14 millimetre in diameter.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by German botanist Hermann WendlandHermann Wendland
Hermann Wendland was a German botanist and gardener.He was a noted authority on the family Arecaceae , on which he published a major monograph which formed the basis for the modern classification of the family, including many of the generic names currently in use.The South American palm genus...
in 1857 as Martinezia lindeniana. In 1878 Wendland transferred it to the genus Aiphanes.
Distribution and status
Aiphanes lindeniana is endemic to ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. It is widely distributed along the Cordilleras Occidental and Central in humid, high-elevation forests. Although it is often spared when areas are deforested
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
, it appears to be unable to reproduce by seed in these areas. Due to expanding agriculture and forestry operations in its native range, it is considered a vulnerable species
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
.