Wettinia
Encyclopedia
Wettinia is a palm genus, consisting of flowering plant
s in the Arecaceae
family. The genus, established in 1837, contains some 20 species
, but more seem to await discovery considering that 4 species - W. aequatorialis
, W. lanata, W. minima
and W. panamensis - were described as late as 1995. The genus is broadly divided into two groups. One group has the fruits tightly packed, while the other, formerly classified as genus Catoblastus, has fruits scattered along the inflorescence
branches. It is not known whether these groups are both monophyletic. The genus is named after Frederick Augustus II of Saxony
, of the House of Wettin.
leaves. The rope-like inflorescences of the plant emerge from leathery spathes, and grow in a circular pattern around one or more trunk rings beneath the crown shaft. They are unisexual, fleshy, and cream colored or white. The fruit is small to medium sized and elongated, green to bluish black in color. It grows either dispersed along the branches or in a tightly packed ellipsoid or sausage-like cylinder.
and South America
. Although none of the species are frost-tolerant, they are found primarily in cooler and higher-altitude locations, up to 2,200 m in the case of Wettinia kalbreyeri
, and are particularly prevalent along the foothills of the Andes
.
Wettinia augusta Poepp. & Endl.
Wettinia castanea H.E.Moore & J.Dransf.
Wettinia fascicularis
Wettinia hirsuta
Wettinia lanata R.Bernal
Wettinia longipetala
Wettinia minima
Wettinia oxycarpa Galeano-Garcés & R.Bernal
Wettinia panamensis R.Bernal
Wettinia quinaria (O.F.Cook & Doyle) Burret
Wettinia verruculosa H.E.Moore
Catoblastus group:
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s in the 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...
family. The genus, established in 1837, contains some 20 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...
, but more seem to await discovery considering that 4 species - W. aequatorialis
Wettinia aequatorialis
Wettinia aequatorialis is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Ecuador.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, W. lanata, W. minima
Wettinia minima
Wettinia minima is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat being subtropical or tropical moist montanes, it is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
and W. panamensis - were described as late as 1995. The genus is broadly divided into two groups. One group has the fruits tightly packed, while the other, formerly classified as genus Catoblastus, has fruits scattered along the inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
branches. It is not known whether these groups are both monophyletic. The genus is named after Frederick Augustus II of Saxony
Frederick Augustus II of Saxony
Frederick Augustus II |Tyrol]], 9 August 1854) was King of Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin.He was the eldest son of Maximilian, Prince of Saxony --younger son of the Elector Frederick Christian of Saxony—by his...
, of the House of Wettin.
Morphology
Palms of the genus Wettinia are monoecious, medium sized to large, and typically solitary-trunked. They have a low, dense cone of brown or black stilt roots, and pinnatePinnate
Pinnate is a term used to describe feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis in plant or animal structures, and comes from the Latin word pinna meaning "feather", "wing", or "fin". A similar term is pectinate, which refers to a comb-like arrangement of parts...
leaves. The rope-like inflorescences of the plant emerge from leathery spathes, and grow in a circular pattern around one or more trunk rings beneath the crown shaft. They are unisexual, fleshy, and cream colored or white. The fruit is small to medium sized and elongated, green to bluish black in color. It grows either dispersed along the branches or in a tightly packed ellipsoid or sausage-like cylinder.
Distribution
Members of this genus are found throughout Central AmericaCentral America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Although none of the species are frost-tolerant, they are found primarily in cooler and higher-altitude locations, up to 2,200 m in the case of Wettinia kalbreyeri
Wettinia kalbreyeri
Wettinia kalbreyeri is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. The plant is named after the Victorian plant collector, Guillermo Kalbreyer . It is commonly called the Macana Palm....
, and are particularly prevalent along the foothills of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
.
Species
Wettinia s. str. group:Wettinia aequatorialis
Wettinia aequatorialis is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Ecuador.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
Wettinia fascicularis
Wettinia fascicularis is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.-References:* Bernal, R. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007....
Wettinia hirsuta
Wettinia hirsuta is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Colombia.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Bernal, R. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007....
Wettinia longipetala
Wettinia longipetala is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Peru, on the outskirts of the amazon rainforest. It is has a conservation status of vulnerable.-Members of the genus Wettinia:...
Wettinia minima
Wettinia minima is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat being subtropical or tropical moist montanes, it is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
Catoblastus group:
- Wettinia aequalis (O.F.Cook & Doyle) R.Bernal
- Wettinia anomalaWettinia anomalaWettinia anomala is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.-References:* Bernal, R. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007....
- Wettinia distichaWettinia distichaWettinia disticha is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Colombia.-References:* Bernal, R. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007....
- Wettinia drudeiWettinia drudeiWettinia drudei is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.-References:* Bernal, R. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007....
- Wettinia kalbreyeriWettinia kalbreyeriWettinia kalbreyeri is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. The plant is named after the Victorian plant collector, Guillermo Kalbreyer . It is commonly called the Macana Palm....
- Wettinia maynensis Spruce
- Wettinia microcarpa (Burret) R.Bernal
- Wettinia praemorsa (Willd.) Wess.Boer
- Wettinia radiata (O.F.Cook & Doyle) R.Bernal