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Introduction: Understanding the phenology of plant populations is vital for their conservation and management. We studied the vegetative and reproductive phenology of the endangered palm Ceroxylon quindiuense along an altitudinal gradient in the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Objective: We describe the leaf production rate, and flowering and fruiting cycles, and calculate food offer for the fauna, as a tool for the proper management of the palm. Methods: At each sampling site (2 400, 2 600, 2 800, 3 000 m.a.s.l.), we marked 40 adult individuals (20 pistillate, 20 staminate), which we followed bimonthly for 24 months. We studied leaf production by counting fallen leaves. We followed flower and fruit production through observations with binoculars and photographs. Results: Each adult individual produced, on average, one leaf every 69 days. Although isolated individuals flowered throughout the year, most palms flowered synchronously at each elevation in October 2016-August 2017 and in August 2018-February 2019 and had ripe fruits 7-13 months later. Flowering started at 2 600 m, followed by 2 800 and 3 000 m. Palms at 2 400 m, the lower limit of the palm stands in the area, showed a singular behavior, with scarce flower and fruit production, some individuals that changed sex, and a higher proportion of pistillate palms. Each palm produced 1-11 (x̄ = 5.3, SD = 2.2) inflorescences and 1-10 (x̄ = 5.3, SD = 2.2) infructescences. The average number of fruits per infructescence was 4 465 (SD = 1 488). With an estimated population of adult palms between 256 000 and 600 000 and an overall ratio of pistillate: staminate individuals 1:1 or 1:2, total fruit production in the area during each fruiting period is estimated as 2.0-7.1 billion fruits. Conclusions: The huge number of flowers and fruits and their gradual availability along the altitudinal gradient have a major impact on the spatial and temporal distribution of food offer for fauna associated with the palm. Resumen Introducción: Comprender la fenología de las poblaciones de plantas es vital para su conservación y manejo. Estudiamos la fenología vegetativa y reproductiva de la palma amenazada Ceroxylon quindiuense a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal en la Cordillera Central de Colombia. Objetivo: Describimos la tasa de producción de hojas, los ciclos de floración y fructificación, y calculamos la oferta alimentaria para la fauna, como una herramienta para el adecuado manejo de la palma. Métodos: En cada sitio de muestreo (2 400, 2 600, 2 800, 3 000 m.s.n.m.), marcamos 40 individuos adultos (20 pistilados, 20 estaminados), que seguimos bimestralmente durante 24 meses. Estudiamos la producción de hojas contando las caídas al suelo. Seguimos la producción de flores y frutos a través de observaciones con binoculares y fotografías. Resultados: Cada individuo adulto produjo, en promedio, una hoja cada 69 días. Aunque los individuos aislados florecieron durante todo el año, la mayoría de las palmas florecieron sincrónicamente en cada elevación entre octubre 2016 y agosto 2017 y de agosto 2018 a febrero 2019 y tuvieron frutos maduros entre 7-13 meses después. La floración comenzó a los 2 600 m, seguida de los 2 800 y los 3 000 m. Las palmas a 2 400 m, límite inferior de los palmares de la zona, mostraron un comportamiento singular, con escasa producción de flores y frutos, varios individuos que cambiaron de sexo y una mayor proporción de palmas pistiladas. Cada palma produjo 1-11 (x̄ = 5.3, SD = 2.2) inflorescencias y 1-10 (x̄ = 5.3, SD = 2.2) infrutescencias. El número promedio de frutos por infrutescencia fue de 4 465. Con una población estimada de palmas adultas entre 256 000 y 600 000 y una proporción total de individuos pistilados: estaminados 1:1 o 1:2, la producción total de frutos en el área durante cada período de fructificación se estima en 2.0-7.1 mil millones de frutos. Conclusiones: La gran cantidad de flores y frutos y su progresiva disponibilidad a lo largo del gradiente tienen un impacto importante en la distribución espacial y temporal de la oferta de alimento para la fauna asociada a la palma.

The leaves of the palm Sabal mauritiiformis constitute the natural material most used for thatching in the Colombian Caribbean. The leaves and other parts of the plant are also used in other economic and cultural activities on a smaller scale. Through 49 semi-structured interviews and seven days of participant observation, we documented the management and local ecological knowledge of this species in a Colombian peasant community, and identified the value chain for its leaves. We found 25 uses for S. mauritiiformis, belonging to 11 use categories. The leaves are harvested from wild populations, where the most outstanding management practice is tolerance, consisting of the maintenance of the palms in traditional production systems, even after the elimination of forest canopy. Leaf marketing results in an organized, simple and regional value chain, mainly linked to tourism. The relevance of this species in the Caribbean was evident both in the different management modalities and in the stock of ecological and technical knowledge that the communities have accumulated. This has allowed the conservation of this palm, despite the almost total disappearance of its natural habitat. With some adjustments in the practices applied to palms and to the value chain, the case of S. mauritiiformis in the Caribbean would constitute a model of how use and conservation of native biodiversity can contribute to boost regional economy.

Phytoliths are silica bodies found in vascular plants, often diagnostic at the family level in angiosperms. They are especially abundant in palms (Arecaceae), occurring in all organs, with the highest concentrations in leaves. Phytoliths can remain in the soil for thousands or even millions of years, providing physical evidence of taxa in time and space. As such, they can be used to reconstruct ancient floras and landscapes, interpret events in plant evolution and document plant use by ancient peoples. In palms, studies of phytoliths remain scarce and guides for identifying those of regional floras are needed, especially in the Amazon, where palms are a dominant floristic and cultural element. We surveyed contemporary phytoliths in 92 species of Amazonian palms, representing 29 genera across four subfamilies. Previous studies have recognized only two palm phytolith morphotypes (globular echinate and conical), but here we recognize eight types that provide diagnostic information at the levels of subfamily, tribe, genus and, in some cases, species. With this degree of taxonomic resolution, phytoliths are proving to be a powerful line of evidence linking palms to past human activity in Amazonia and we expect their use to be expanded to interpret palaeoecological changes in this region across geological time.

International audience; Andean orogenesis has driven the development of very high plant diversity in the Neotropics through its impact on landscape evolution and climate. The analysis of the intraspecific patterns of genetic structure in plants would permit inferring the effects of Andean uplift on the evolution and diversification of Neotropical flora. In this study, using microsatellite markers and Bayesian clustering analyses, we report the presence of four genetic clusters for the palm Oenocarpus bataua var. bataua which are located within four biogeographic regions in northwestern South America : (a) Chocó rain forest, (b) Amotape-Huancabamba Zone, (c) northwestern Amazonian rain forest, and (d) southwestern Amazonian rain forest. We hypothesize that these clusters developed following three genetic diversification events mainly promoted byAndean orogenic events. Additionally, the distinct current climate dynamics among northwestern and southwestern Amazonia may maintain the genetic diversification detected in the western Amazon basin. Genetic exchange was identified betweenthe clusters, including across the Andes region, discarding the possibility of any cluster to diversify as a distinct intraspecific variety. We identified a hot spot of geneticdiversity in the northern Peruvian Amazon around the locality of Iquitos. We alsodetected a decrease in diversity with distance from this area in westward and southward directionwithin theAmazon basin and the easternAndean foothills.Additionally,we confirmed the existence and divergence of O. bataua var. bataua from var. oligocarpus in northern South America, possibly expanding the distributional range of thelatter variety beyond eastern Venezuela, to the central and eastern Andean cordilleras of Colombia. Based on our results, we suggest that Andean orogenesis is themain driver of genetic structuring and diversification in O. bataua within northwestern South America.

Este Trabajo Fin de Grado trata la evolución de la tecnología desde la Primera Revolución Industrial hasta la Revolución 4.0 o Cuarta Revolución Industrial, el desarrollo paralelo del turismo a estas revoluciones, y el grado de conocimiento y percepción de estudiantes, recién egresados y profesionales experimentados del sector turístico sobre Inteligencia Artificial y Turismo 4.0.

Sex change is an uncommon event in nature. Animals and plants that change sex during their lifetimes are both taxonomically and geographically widespread, but they comprise a small minority among sexual organisms Policansky 1982). In dioecious plants, those in which individuals are either male or female, sex change is also uncommon, and it has never been recorded in palms, one of the groups of plants with the broadest diversity of sexual systems (Nadot et al. 2016).

The Neotropical palm tribe Iriarteeae is ubiquitous in several lowland and montane biomes across northern South America, but the phylogenetic relationships among genera and species remain unresolved. A well resolved phylogenetic tree is key to exploring morphological evolution in the tribe, including striking features such as the complex and unique inflorescence structures in Wettinia. We generated data from five plastid (ndhA, petD-rpoA, psbK-trnS and trnG) and six nuclear (AG1, CISPs 4 and 5, PRK, RPB2 and WRKY21) molecular loci to infer the phylogeny. We explored the evolutionary patterns of trait evolution using the D statistic and stochastic character mapping. All genera were inferred as monophyletic and their relationships were recovered with strong to moderate support. Based on these results we synonymize the two species of Iriartella under I. setigera and resurrect Socratea montana from S. rostrata. Interspecific relationships were mostly consistent with current morphological classification. One exception concerns trait evolution in Wettinia, in which the clustered infructescence was found to have evolved at least four times. Phylogenetic signal for this trait was weak and randomly distributed across the tree, probably representing convergence. Our results provide a robust phylogenetic framework for Iriarteeae, largely corroborating current morphological classification and laying the groundwork for macroevolutionary studies in the tribe. (C) 2016 The Linnean Society of London.

Leaves of the palm Lepidocaryum tenue are one of the most prized thatching materials in northwestern Amazonia. We studied the population dynamics of this stoloniferous palm in Colombian Amazonia, using ramet-based Lefkovitch matrices, and assessed the impact of leaf harvest on population structure and dynamics, through experimental defoliation. Leaf production rate of unharvested palms ranged between 0.93 leaves per year in seedlings and 1.71 in adults. Vegetative shoots produced through stolons are more important than seedlings for maintaining the population; stolons act also as a reserve to overcome damage in the population. The potential population growth rate was 8.3 % per year (λ = 1.083). Juveniles had the highest contribution to population growth, and permanence was the most important life parameter. Thus, harvest of leaves for thatching can jeopardize the population if juveniles are also harvested. An initial harvest intensity of more than 50% of the leaves in a crown, or leaving the palm with fewer than four leaves, would have a negative impact on leaf production. Although matrix modeling suggests that all adult ramets can be harvested, this must be taken with caution, as clonal integration may play an important role in population dynamics. Long-term harvest of Lepidocaryum leaves is possible, if plots are harvested in turns of four years, thus allowing palms to recover from the previous harvest. A better control on the quality of the braided tiles sold in the market would also ensure their longer duration, thus reducing the pressure on the resource.

We reviewed information on management of useful palms in South America. We documented management for 96 species, from incidental activities intended to increase populations of wild palms to the inclusion of palms in complex agroforestry systems. Two species, Bactris gasipaes and Parajubaea cocoides, are domesticated. Managed species are remarkably fewer than species used in the region, which suggests that harvesters often disregard the fate of the species they use. The best way of managing palms is to employ harvest methods that do not decimate the populations. Although a variety of harvesting techniques have been documented, overharvest is common, and mismanagement prevails – unnecessary felling of palms in order to harvest leaves or fruits is a widespread practice. Research should focus on assessing production in response to management practices, but eradicating the habit of destructive harvest is an obvious priority. Research on palm management must be combined with actions addressed to all stakeholders of the palm/humans system.

We studied the Araceae of the Cabo Corrientes region on the Pacific Coast of Colombia and compared its aroid flora with those of La Selva (Costa Rica), Barro Colorado Island (Panama), Bajo Calima (Colombia), Rio Palenque (Ecuador), and Iquitos (Peru). We found 114 native species in 14 genera at Cabo Corrientes; the largest genera were Anthurium (38 species), and Philodendron (36), which together accounted for 65% of the species. Seventy-four percent of the species were exclusively epiphytic or hemiepiphytic. Most of the epiphytic species belonged to the genera Anthurium, Philodendron, Rhodospatha, Syngonium, Monstera, and Stenospermation, the latter three containing exclusively epiphytic or hemiepiphytic species. The flora of Araceae of Cabo Corrientes was most similar to that of La Selva, Barro Colorado Island, and Bajo Calima; similarity with Rio Palenque was low. Our findings support Lellinger's view that the Choco biogeographic region extends to the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border and is divided into a northern and a southern flora.

We compare an assessment of the conservation status of Colombian palms made in 1987 with the current situation in 2005. The number of species considered as threatened (critically endangered + endangered + vulnerable) in 2005 is the same (39) as the number in 1987 (endangered + vulnerable), although both the circumscription of categories and the total species counts for the country have changed between both assessments. Only 16 of the 39 species considered as threatened in 1987 are currently treated as such. The remaining 23 species are now treated as synonyms or have proved to be more widespread than previously known. On the other hand, 23 species have been newly added to the ‘threatened’ categories. Ten of them are new species, new records or new segregates. We predict that any new species discovered in the Andes of Colombia will prove to be threatened. We estimate that up to 12 species that may potentially become segregated from currently recognized species or species complexes might also be at risk. However, the proportion of threatened palms in the flora is not expected to change considerably as a result of improved understanding of the species’ taxonomy or distribution. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 151, 151–163.

We studied the rheophytic vascular flora of the Samana Norte River basin in Antioquia, Colombia, by rafting along a 61.4-km stretch of the river and establishing 10 plots on its banks. We found 58 ...

A review of palm remains recorded at archaeological sites throughout the New World is presented. Remains have been found at 130 sites from the southern United States to southern Uruguay. They are of four kinds: carbonized or dry endocarps or seeds, phytoliths, pollen, and implements. Twenty-nine genera and at least 50 species of palms (i.e., about 9% of all American species) have been recorded. The oldest record dates back to 14,700b.p. for carbonized endocarp fragments of an unidentified palm in Rondonia, Brazil. The use of palms, as recorded from remains, was particularly widespread after 9000b.p. The predominant remains are endocarps ofAcrocomia, Attalea s.l.,Astrocaryum, Bactris, Syagrus, Elaeis, andOenocarpus, all of which are important sources of edible oils or edible fruits and are still widely used by aboriginal peoples. The review supports the hypothesis that human groups have played an important role in the dispersal of some palm species in the neotropics. Humanaided dispersal ofAcrocomia aculeata from South America into Central America, and ofOenocarpus bataua from northwestern Amazonia to other areas, is postulated. Archaeological remains support the hypothesis that pejibaye (Bactris gasipaes) was domesticated in the inter-Andean valleys or on the adjacent Pacific lowlands of Colombia and later introduced into the Amazon Basin.

Valeriana neglecta R. Bernal (Valerianaceae) from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in northern Colombia, is described as new, and illustrated, based on two specimens collected in 1844. It belongs to subgenus Valeriana sect. Porteria (Hook.) Benth. & Hook f., and differs from other species of the group in its corymboid inflorescence, with dense, capitoid, partial inflorescences, and in its narrowly spathulate leaves that are remotely dentate towards apex.

1. The demography of the vegetable ivory palm Phytelephas seemannii was studied on the Pacific coast of Colombia and a female-based matrix model was used to determine the proportion of seed that can be sustainably harvested from the population. 2. The density of the palm stands ranged from 240 to 420 adult palms ha−1. The sex ratio was 1:1 and palms of both sexes produced leaves at the same rate. Seedlings produced 1·2 leaves per year on average, juveniles 1·8, and adults 6·1–7·4. 3. Adult females had fewer leaves than males (18·5 vs. 21·3 on average). Leaves of females lasted about 2·7 years in the crown, those of males about 3·2 years. 4. Stems creep on the ground, growing at the apex and often dying behind, the extant portion not always reflecting the palm’s total age. The longest stem of a female palm in the study plots was 2·5 m, corresponding to an ‘extant’ age of 85 years; the longest stem recorded was that of a male (outside the plots) 10·5 m long, corresponding to an ‘extant’ age of 184 years. These figures reflect differences in growth habit, not in longevity. 5. Reproduction began at about 24 years, when the palm still lacked an above-ground stem. 6. The population growth rate λ was 1·059, and was most sensitive to changes in survival of juveniles and adults, and relatively insensitive to changes in fecundity and growth. 7. River channel migration is the most important cause of adult mortality. Phytelephas seemannii is apparently an efficient colonizer of the understorey in the late phases of riverine forest succession. 8. The population can tolerate a harvest intensity of 86% of all seeds before λ decreases to the equilibrium level of 1·00. Monitoring of the populations under intensive harvesting is required.

La madera de Iriartea deltoidea es un excelente material usado en construcción, carpintería, ebanistería y artesanías en la Amazonia colombiana, especialmente en el piedemonte amazónico, donde se desarrolla una pequeña industria alrededor de ella. Mostramos las prácticas de manejo de la especie, así como los diferentes usos y tendencias del comercio en el municipio de Mocoa (Putumayo). Presentamos datos de estructura poblacional en tres sitios contrastantes. La demanda estimada de tallos es de aproximadamente 750 al año y el área de bosque necesaria para suplir esta demanda oscila entre 17 y 83 ha. La cosecha de la palma se da en bosques naturales o en zonas de potrero, y las únicas prácticas de manejo son la extracción selectiva, la siembra de plántulas o la preservación de las palmas en los potreros. Dadas las condiciones naturales de la zona, la abundancia de la especie, su crecimiento y actual sistema de extracción, es viable que la actividad artesanal en la región crezca, siempre y cuando se implementen programas de enriquecimiento y repoblamiento de áreas degradadas, disminuya la deforestación y se establezcan tallas mínimas de cosecha basadas en alturas y no en diámetros. The wood of the palm Iriartea deltoidea is an excellent material used for building, furniture and handicrafts in the Colombian Amazon, especially in the Amazon foothills where a small industry has developed around this species. We report the management practices, uses and commercial trends of this species in the municipality of Mocoa (Putumayo). We present data on population structure at three contrasting sites. The estimated demand of stems is ca. 750 per year, and the area necessary to supply them is 17-83 ha. Harvesting is carried out in natural forests or in pastures. The management practices are selective logging, sowing of seedlings and sparing of palms in pastures. Taking into account the natural condition of Mocoa, the abundance of the species, its growth rate and the current extraction system, productivity could grow if the followings activities were performed: enrichment of secondary forests, re-population of eroded areas, reduction of deforestation, and establishment of minimal harvest sizes based on height rather than diameter.

Wax palms are an important element of the cloud forests in the tropical Andes. Despite heavy deforestation, the density of adults seems to be similar in deforested pastures as in forests. We aimed to infer the mechanisms responsible for this apparent resilience in pastures and we tested two hypotheses to explain it: 1) adult palms survived in pastures because they were spared from logging, and 2) adults occurred in pastures through the resilience of large juvenile rosettes, which survived through subterranean meristems and later developed into adults. For this purpose, we characterized the demographic structure of C. quindiuense in a total of 122 plots of 400 m(2) in forests and pastures at two sites with contrasted land use histories in Colombia and Peru. Additionally, we implemented growth models that allowed us to estimate the age of individuals at four sites. These data were combined with information collected from local land managers in order to complete our knowledge on the land use history at each site. At two sites, the presence of old individuals up to 169 years and a wide age range evidenced that, at least, a portion of current adults in pastures were spared from logging at the time of deforestation. However, at the two other sites, the absence of older adults in pastures and the narrow age range of the populations indicated that individuals came exclusively from rosette resilience. These interpretations were consistent with the land use history of sites. In consequence, the combination of the two hypotheses (spared individuals and rosette resilience) explained patterns of C. quindiuense in pastures on a regional scale. Regeneration through subterranean meristems in palms is an important, yet overlooked mechanism of resilience, which occurs in a number of palm species and deserves being integrated in the conceptual framework of disturbance ecology.

Primary localized amyloidosis is rare in the orbit. We report the case of a 63-year-old woman that presented with bilateral proptosis and ophthalmoplegia. A computed tomography scan revealed an infiltrative amorphous and markedly calcified mass in both orbits while a magnetic resonance scan showed a heterogeneous hypointense signal on T2-weighted images. A biopsy was performed through an anterior orbitotomy. Microscopy revealed extracellular amorphous and eosinophilic hyaline material which stained pink with Congo red and displayed green birefringence on polarized microscopy, leading to a diagnosis of amyloidosis. The results of the systemic workup were completely normal. A two-year follow-up period without any treatment disclosed no worsening of the condition. While calcification of nonvascular orbital lesions has often been regarded as suggestive of malignant disease, our case is a reminder that it can also be a characteristic presenting sign of orbital amyloidosis. Amiloidose primária e localizada na órbita é rara. Relatamos o caso de paciente do sexo feminino, 63 anos que se apresentou com proptose bilateral e oftalmoplegia. A tomografia computadorizada mostrou uma massa infiltrativa amorfa e calcificada em ambas as órbitas enquanto que a imagem por ressonância magnética mostrou imagem heterogênea hipointensa ponderada em T2. Uma biópsia foi realizada por orbitotomia anterior. A microscopia revelou um material extracelular amorfo, hialino e eosinofílico que corou com vermelho Congo e mostrou cor verde birrefringente à microscopia com luz polarizada, levando ao diagnóstico de amiloidose. O resultado da investigação sistêmica foi inteiramente negativo. Um período de seguimento de dois anos sem qualquer tratamento não evidenciou piora da condição. Enquanto que a presença de calcificação de lesão não vascular da órbita frequentemente é considerada sugestiva de doençamaligna, o nosso caso serve para lembrar que pode também ser um sinal característico de amiloidose orbitária.

Este artículo presenta un inventario de la flora de palmeras autóctonas de Suramérica, conformada por 457 especies y 50 géneros. Se analiza la distribución de este grupo vegetal en siete entidades fitogeográficas y se discuten los principales factores que influyen sobre la evolución de las palmeras en América del Sur. This article presents an inventory of South American palms including 457 species and 50 genera. The distribution of palms within seven phytogeographical entities is analyzed. Factors which influence the evolution of palms in South America are discussed

Copernicia tectorum is a palm that grows in large populations on seasonally flooded savannas in the Caribbean region of Colombia, where its stems and expanded leaves are used in construction, and its unexpanded leaves are used to make handicrafts. We studied abundance and population structure in 34 plots of 20×10m (0.68 ha) of three localities (Plato, Córdoba and Magangué) at the Mompox Depression, an inner delta formed by the confluence of four large rivers. We recorded growth and mortality of 164 palms of different size classes over 13 months, and additionally we estimated seedling and juvenile mortality in two 10x10m plots within the same sites. Data analysis using Kolgomorov-Smirnov (KS), Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were made on Statgraphics Plus and SPSS. We related the structure and dynamics of the palm stands to flood intensity. Copernicia tectorum has the fastest leaf production rate recorded for any palm (19-23 leaves/year in subadults and adults), and a short life span of ca. 46 years. The abundance, density and high leaf production rate of this palm offers a great potential for the sustainable use of its unexpanded leaves (especially at Plato, where there are ca. 480ha of palm stands with 300-1 000 individuals/ha), as leaf harvest from subadult and adult individuals does not appear to affect population structure. The palm is a pioneer of the flood plain, and the palm stands at particular sites appear to wax and wane following sedimentation dynamics, in which the species plays in important role. Current population structure and the scarce recruitment of juveniles at the study site suggest that the population is waning in that site. Management actions should be taken to reestablish natural river dynamics at the lagoon complex where the palm grows. Appropriate management of palm stands may contribute to minimize any negative effects of river dynamics.

The new palm genus Sabinaria (Cryosophileae, Coryphoideae, Arecaceae) and the new species Sabinaria magnifica from the Colombia-Panama border are described and illustrated. Sabinaria differs from other genera in the tribe in the leaf blades with a single deep, medial, abaxial split, and short abaxial splits in each segment, mostly unisexual flowers with biseriate perianth, calyx connate with the corolla at a single place on its margin, large, tightly appressed, persistent rachis bracts that hide the pistillate flowers, and fruits tightly packed and hidden among leaf bases, often covered by litter. Se describen e ilustran el nuevo género de palmas Sabinaria (Cryosophileae, Coryphoideae, Arecaceae) y la nueva especie Sabinaria magnifica, de la frontera entre Colombia y Panamá. Sabinaria difiere de otros géneros en la tribu por la lámina foliar con una sola división abaxial central y cortas divisiones abaxiales en cada uno de los segmentos, flores principalmente unisexuales con perianto biseriado, cáliz connato con la corola en un solo punto en su margen, grandes brácteas del raquis fuertemente adpresas y persistentes, que ocultan las flores pistiladas, y frutos apiñados, ocultos entre las bases de las hojas y a menudo cubiertos por hojarasca.

Presentamos una sintesis de la trayectoria de extraccion de palmito de la palma Euterpe oleracea en el sur de la Costa Pacifica de Colombia y un diagnostico del estado actual de aprovechamiento, a partir de la documentacion de la cadena de valor. El estudio incluyo entrevistas semiestructuradas y observacion participativa con los diferentes actores del sistema. La cadena de valor esta compuesta por cuatro segmentos: cosecha, acopio, procesamiento y comercializacion. Despues de treinta anos de aprovechamiento, el sistema continua siendo netamente extractivo, pues depende de la oferta del recurso en condiciones naturales y de la voluntad del cortero para proveer de materia prima a las plantas de procesamiento que operan en la zona. A pesar de las ventajas biologicas y ecologicas que caracterizan a esta palma cespitosa dominante en el bosque, hacen falta estudios detallados que muestren el impacto real de las practicas actuales de aprovechamiento sobre las poblaciones. La extraccion de palmito tiene un alto impacto social y economico en la region, pues representa un ingreso importante para muchas familias. Las buenas relaciones entre la empresa, los corteros y la autoridad ambiental han sido un factor determinante para que la actividad se mantenga; pero todo el proceso necesita ser fortalecido, tanto estrategica como financieramente, a fin de solucionar los problemas de caracter organizacional, economico y social que se presentan en torno a dicha actividad.

Normal 0 21 false false false ES X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Attalea butyracea (Mutis ex L.f.) Wess. Boer is a massive and abundant palm that grows in dry areas of northern, central and eastern Colombia, where it ranks as one of the most useful plants. Thirty-six uses in eight use categories are recorded for this species in Colombia, including food, animal feed, medicine, construction, and technological and cultural uses. Most uses have only minor, local relevance, but some of them have potential that is worth exploring. The potential of the palm as a source of sugar, oil, palm heart, fiber, animal feed, and activated charcoal is discussed. Sugar production seems particularly promising; if the palm can be tapped through the inflorescence in the same way that other palms are tapped in Asia, sugar production in an integrated agrosilvopastoral system could be comparable to that of sugarcane planted for jaggery production. We suggest that this palm also has potential as a source of biofuel. Resumen Attalea butyracea (Mutis ex L.f.) Wess. Boer es una palma corpulenta, abundante en zonas secas del norte, centro y oriente de Colombia, donde llega a ser una de las plantas mas utiles. Registramos treinta y seis usos en ocho categorias de uso para esta especie en Colombia, incluyendo alimento humano y animal, medicina, construccion, y usos tecnologicos y culturales. La mayoria de los usos tienen solo importancia menor y local, pero algunos tiene potencial que vale la pena explorar. Discutimos el potencial de la palma como fuente de azucar, aceite, palmito, fibra, alimento animal y carbon activado. La produccion de azucar parece particularmente prometedora; si se pudiera sangrar la palma por las inflorescencias como se hace con otras palmas en Asia, la produccion de azucar en un sistema agrosilvopastoril integrado seria comparable a la de la cana de azucar que se planta para panela. Sugerimos que esta palma tambien tiene potencial como fuente de biocombustible.

We studied the inflorescence phenology, floral biology, insect visitation, and pollen transport of the vegetable ivory palm Phytelephas seemannii in tropical rain forest at the Pacific coast of Colombia. Inflorescences warm up before and during anthesis. Male inflorescences open mostly by day and females at night. Visitors include Coleoptera (Staphylinidae, Nitidulidae, Curculionidae, Scarabaeidae), Diptera (Drosophilidae, Sphaeroceridae), Hymenoptera (Apidae, Vespidae), and Acarina, which are attracted to the male inflorescences by pollen and breeding opportunities. Female inflorescences apparently offer no reward, and they attract visitors by odor mimicry. Pollination takes place from dawn and throughout the daytime, and is mostly carried out by three species of pollen-eating Amazoncharis (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) and by their predators, Xanthopygus (Staphylinidae: Staphylininae). Amazoncharis reproduces in the male inflorescences by constructing egg chambers in the fleshy receptacle of the flowers. This reproductive behavior resembles that of beetles in the closely related subtribe Gyrophaenina that reproduce in fleshy mushrooms, whose spores they eat. We suggest that the fleshy structure of the male flowers' receptacle in this species is an adaptation to the pollination by egg chamber constructing Alaeocharinae.

are discussed. Two of them, Oenocarpus simplex and Oenocarpus makeru are described as new. Oenocarpus bacaba var. parvus is shown to be a synonym of 0. balickii; this species and 0. minor are recorded for the first time in Colombia. Some comments on the poorly known 0. circumtextus are also given. The new findings support the inclusion of Jessenia in Oenocarpus. Se discuten cinco especies de Oenocarpus de la regi6n del rio CaquetA, en la Amazonia Colombiana. Dos de ellas, Oenocarpus simplex y Oenocarpus makeru se describen como nuevas. Oenocarpus bacaba var. parvus es considerada un sinonimo de 0. balickii, y esta especie, junto con 0. minor, es registrada por primera vez en Colombia. Se da informaci6n adicional sobre 0. circumtextus, una especie muy poco conocida. Los nuevos hallazgos respaldan la uni6n de Jessenia y Oenocarpus. Nine species were recognized by Balick (1986) in the most recent revision of the Jessenia-Oenocarpus complex. Two new varieties of Oenocarpus bacaba C. Martius from Venezuela were later added by Wessels Boer (1988), and a new species of Oenocarpus C. Martius from Peru was described by Kahn (1990). Four species were reported by Balick to occur in Colombia: Jessenia bataua (C. Martius) Burret, Oenocarpus circumtextus C. Martius, Oenocarpus bacaba, and 0. mapora Karsten, the last with two subspecies. As a result of Balick's revision there has been a revival of interest in the group, particularly in its economic potential. Consequently there are abundant new collections. Recent exploration of the area of La Pedrera, on the Rio Caqueta in the Colombian Amazon, in particular has revealed the existence of at least seven species in this group in that region: Jessenia bataua, Oenocarpus bacaba, 0. balickii Kahn, 0. minor C. Martius, 0. circumtextus, 0. makeru, and 0. simplex, the latter two described here as new. Oenocarpus mapora Karsten, a common species throughout the northwestern Amazon, was not seen during the short visit to this area; nevertheless, it has been collected upstream along the Rio Caqueta (Galeano, 1991), and its occurrence in the La Pedrera area seems likely. In any case, the presence of seven species within such a restricted area represents the highest diversity for this group known so far. La Pedrera is located on the lower Rio Caqueta in Colombia, some 30 km from the Brazilian border. The region is mostly covered with tropical wet forest (IGAC, 1977) usually developed on alluvial, acidic soils. Interspersed are rather large areas of rocky outcrops of granite or quartzite, marked by a peculiar flora that is physiognomically very different from that of the surrounding forest. The physiognomy of the flora is actually very similar to that of the mountains and savannas of the Guayana Highland (Huber, 1989). The area is poorly known botanically. Comments on some of the species are made below, including description of the