Aiphanes leiostachys
Encyclopedia
Aiphanes leiostachys is a species of palm
that is endemic to Colombia
. Known from only a few forest fragments
in the Cordillera Central, it is threatened by habitat loss and forest management practices.
up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long. Individuals are usually multi-stemmed, with up to 10 stems, but occasionally are single-stemmed. Stems bear about 11 leaves which consists of a leaf sheath, a petiole
and a rachis
. Leaf sheaths, which wrap around the stem, are 18 cm (7 in) long and are densely covered with black spines up to 1 cm (0.393700787401575 in) long. Petioles are green, 14 to 16 cm (5.5 to 6.3 ) long, and are covered with spines up to 5 cm (2 in) long. Rachises are 102 to 108 cm (40.2 to 42.5 ) and covered with spines. Leaves each bear 17 to 20 pairs of leaflets which are arranged in three vertical rows.
The male flowers, which are white with a purplish-brown corolla, are 1.5 to 2 mm (0.0590551181102362 to 0.078740157480315 ) long. The female flowers are slightly larger—2.5 millimetre long. The fruit have not been described.
in 1932, based on a collection made in 1880. Since the original collection was destroyed when the Berlin Herbarium was bombed during the Second World War, a neotype has been designated.
where it is known from only a few forest fragments
in the Cordillera Central in an area that has largely been deforested
. Given its limited range and the continuing pressures of forest conversion for agriculture and plantation forestry, it is classified as an endangered 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...
. Known from only a few forest fragments
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation as the name implies, describes the emergence of discontinuities in an organism's preferred environment , causing population fragmentation...
in the Cordillera Central, it is threatened by habitat loss and forest management practices.
Description
Aiphanes lindeniana is a small palm 3.5 to 5 m (11.5 to 16.4 ) tall with stems about 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in diameter, which are sparsely covered with slender 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 3 cm (1.2 in) long. Individuals are usually multi-stemmed, with up to 10 stems, but occasionally are single-stemmed. Stems bear about 11 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 18 cm (7 in) long and are densely covered with black spines up to 1 cm (0.393700787401575 in) long. Petioles are green, 14 to 16 cm (5.5 to 6.3 ) long, and are covered with spines up to 5 cm (2 in) long. Rachises are 102 to 108 cm (40.2 to 42.5 ) and covered with spines. Leaves each bear 17 to 20 pairs of leaflets which are arranged in three vertical rows.
The male flowers, which are white with a purplish-brown corolla, are 1.5 to 2 mm (0.0590551181102362 to 0.078740157480315 ) long. The female flowers are slightly larger—2.5 millimetre long. The fruit have not been described.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by German botanist Max BurretMax Burret
Karl Ewald Maximilian Burret, commonly known as Max Burret was a German botanist.Burret was born in Saffig near Andernach in the Prussian Rhine Province. He originally studied law at Lausanne and Munich at the instigation of his father...
in 1932, based on a collection made in 1880. Since the original collection was destroyed when the Berlin Herbarium was bombed during the Second World War, a neotype has been designated.
Distribution and status
Aiphanes leiostachys 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...
where it is known from only a few forest fragments
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation as the name implies, describes the emergence of discontinuities in an organism's preferred environment , causing population fragmentation...
in the Cordillera Central in an area that has largely been 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....
. Given its limited range and the continuing pressures of forest conversion for agriculture and plantation forestry, it is classified as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.