Itaya
Encyclopedia
Itaya amicorum is a medium-sized fan palm
that is native to Brazil
, Colombia
and Peru
. The only species in the genus Itaya, it was unknown to science until 1972.
(or palmate) leaves. The stems reach a height of up to 4 metres (13.1 ft) with a diameter of 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 ). Plants have between 11 and 25 leaves which have a roughly circular blade, about 2 m (6.6 ft) in diameter which is split into 10 to 16 broad leaflets, and a long petiole
. The leaves have a whitish or silver-grey underside.
Itaya amicorum is pleonanthic—it flowers repeatedly over the course of its lifespan—and hermaphroditic; both male and female sex organs are present in the same flowers. The flowers are whitish in colour, while the fruit are yellowish-green, 2 to 2.5 cm (0.78740157480315 to 0.984251968503937 ) long, 1.5 to 2 cm (0.590551181102362 to 0.78740157480315 ) in diameter.
the same year. In the first edition of Genera Palmarum (1987), Natalie Uhl and John Dransfield
placed the genus Itaya in the subfamily Coryphoideae
, the tribe
Corypheae
and the subtribe Thrinacinae Subsequent phylogenetic analysis showed that the Old World
and New World
members of the Thrinacinae were not closely related. As a consequence of this, Itaya and related genera were places in their own tribe, Cryosophileae
.
in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Originally thought to be endangered
due to its narrow distribution, the species is now known to be more widely distributed. The IUCN Red List
categorises the species as data deficient
.
Fan palm
Fan palm as a descriptive term can refer to any of several different kinds of palms in various genera with leaves that are palmately compound...
that is native to 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...
, 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...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. The only species in the genus Itaya, it was unknown to science until 1972.
Description
Itaya amicorum is a medium-sized, single-stemmed palm with fan-shapedFan palm
Fan palm as a descriptive term can refer to any of several different kinds of palms in various genera with leaves that are palmately compound...
(or palmate) leaves. The stems reach a height of up to 4 metres (13.1 ft) with a diameter of 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 ). Plants have between 11 and 25 leaves which have a roughly circular blade, about 2 m (6.6 ft) in diameter which is split into 10 to 16 broad leaflets, and a long 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...
. The leaves have a whitish or silver-grey underside.
Itaya amicorum is pleonanthic—it flowers repeatedly over the course of its lifespan—and hermaphroditic; both male and female sex organs are present in the same flowers. The flowers are whitish in colour, while the fruit are yellowish-green, 2 to 2.5 cm (0.78740157480315 to 0.984251968503937 ) long, 1.5 to 2 cm (0.590551181102362 to 0.78740157480315 ) in diameter.
Taxonomy
Itaya is a monotypic genus—it includes only a single species, I. amicorum. The species was first collected in 1972 along the Rio Itaya in Peru, and was described by Harold E. MooreHarold E. Moore
Harold Emery Moore, Jr. was an American botanist especially known for his work on the systematics of the palm family. He served as Director of the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and was appointed Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor of Botany in 1978...
the same year. In the first edition of Genera Palmarum (1987), Natalie Uhl and John Dransfield
John Dransfield
John Dransfield is an honorary research fellow and former head of palm research at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom, as well as being an authority on the phylogenetic classification of palms....
placed the genus Itaya in the subfamily Coryphoideae
Coryphoideae
Coryphoideae is a subfamily of the palm tree family, Arecaceae....
, the tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Corypheae
Corypheae
Corypheae is a tribe of palm trees in the subfamily Coryphoideae. The extinct palm Palaeoraphe is placed into the subtribe Livistoninae....
and the subtribe Thrinacinae Subsequent phylogenetic analysis showed that the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
and New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
members of the Thrinacinae were not closely related. As a consequence of this, Itaya and related genera were places in their own tribe, Cryosophileae
Cryosophileae
Cryosophileae is a tribe of palms in the subfamily Coryphoideae. The tribe ranges from southern South America, through Central America, into Mexico and the Caribbean...
.
Distribution
Itaya amorica is found only in the western Amazon basinAmazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Originally thought to be endangered
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...
due to its narrow distribution, the species is now known to be more widely distributed. The IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
categorises the species as data deficient
Data Deficient
Data Deficient is a category applied by the IUCN, other agencies, and individuals to a species when the available information is not sufficient for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made...
.