Geonoma
Encyclopedia
Geonoma is a genus
of small to medium-sized palms
native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America.
This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species
are distributed from Mexico
and Haiti
in the north to Paraguay
in the south; two are found in the insular Caribbean.
The genus is a member of the palm tribe Geonomeae (Arecaceae
: Arecoideae), an important Neotropic
al group due to its wide distribution across Central and South America, its diversity and abundance, and the use of a number of species by local human populations. The distribution of the tribe Geonomeae stretches from southeast Mexico down through Central America and into South America, notably Brazil
and Bolivia
, and species are also found in the Greater and Lesser Antilles
. This tribe consists of a group of understory and sub-canopy palms that populate both tropical lowland and montane
forests. While members of this group are relatively easy to collect, as they are not canopy palms or spiny palms, and are well represented in herbaria
, the taxonomy and phylogeny of the species within the tribe are still uncertain. The resolution of the tribe has been disputed despite the fact that Geonomeae species are characterized by three morphological synapomorphies
: the petals of pistillate flowers are basally connate, the presence of slender and elongate styles
, and the flowers are borne in pits in the rachillae.
(= Geonoma swartzii) and Calyptronoma plumeriana
(= Geonoma dulcis, G. intermedia, G. plumeriana).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of small to medium-sized palms
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...
native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America.
This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are distributed from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
in the north to Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
in the south; two are found in the insular Caribbean.
The genus is a member of the palm tribe Geonomeae (Arecaceae
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...
: Arecoideae), an important Neotropic
Neotropic
In biogeography, the Neotropic or Neotropical zone is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones. This ecozone includes South and Central America, the Mexican lowlands, the Caribbean islands, and southern Florida, because these regions share a large number of plant and animal groups.It is sometimes used...
al group due to its wide distribution across Central and South America, its diversity and abundance, and the use of a number of species by local human populations. The distribution of the tribe Geonomeae stretches from southeast Mexico down through Central America and into South America, notably Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, and species are also found in the Greater and Lesser Antilles
Antilles
The Antilles islands form the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. The Antilles are divided into two major groups: the "Greater Antilles" to the north and west, including the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico; and the smaller "Lesser Antilles" on the...
. This tribe consists of a group of understory and sub-canopy palms that populate both tropical lowland and montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
forests. While members of this group are relatively easy to collect, as they are not canopy palms or spiny palms, and are well represented in herbaria
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
, the taxonomy and phylogeny of the species within the tribe are still uncertain. The resolution of the tribe has been disputed despite the fact that Geonomeae species are characterized by three morphological synapomorphies
Synapomorphy
In cladistics, a synapomorphy or synapomorphic character is a trait that is shared by two or more taxa and their most recent common ancestor, whose ancestor in turn does not possess the trait. A synapomorphy is thus an apomorphy visible in multiple taxa, where the trait in question originates in...
: the petals of pistillate flowers are basally connate, the presence of slender and elongate styles
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
, and the flowers are borne in pits in the rachillae.
Species
Species formerly placed in this genus include Calyptronoma occidentalisCalyptronoma occidentalis
Calyptronoma occidentalis is a pinnately compound leaved palm species which is endemic to Jamaica. C. occidentalis stems grow singly and reach heights of 7–12 m, with stems 17–20 cm in diameter...
(= Geonoma swartzii) and Calyptronoma plumeriana
Calyptronoma plumeriana
Calyptronoma plumeriana is a pinnately compound leaved palm species which is found in Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. C. plumeriana stems grow singly and reach heights of 4–10 m, with stems 10–20 cm in diameter...
(= Geonoma dulcis, G. intermedia, G. plumeriana).