Desmoncus polyacanthos, the jacitara palm,[4] is a spiny, climbing palm native to the southern Caribbean and tropical South America. Stems grow clustered together, and are 2–12 m long and 0.5–2 cm in diameter. Petioles, rachis, cirrus and peduncular bracts are covered with short, curved spines.[5] Two varieties are recognised: D. polyacanthos var. polyacanthos[2] and D. polyacanthos var. prunifer (Poepp. ex Mart.) A.J.Hend.[3]
Quick Facts Scientific classification, Binomial name ...
| Desmoncus polyacanthos |
 |
| Scientific classification |
| Kingdom: |
Plantae |
| Clade: |
Tracheophytes |
| Clade: |
Angiosperms |
| Clade: |
Monocots |
| Clade: |
Commelinids |
| Order: |
Arecales |
| Family: |
Arecaceae |
| Genus: |
Desmoncus |
| Species: |
D. polyacanthos |
| Binomial name |
Desmoncus polyacanthos
|
| Synonyms |
|
Atitara polyacantha (Mart.) Kuntze[1]
Desmoncus macroacanthos Mart.
Desmoncus oxyacanthos Mart.
Desmoncus pycnacanthos Mart.
Desmoncus setosus Mart.
Desmoncus riparius Spruce
Desmoncus oligacanthus Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus aereus Drude
Desmoncus leptoclonos Drude
Desmoncus phengophyllus Drude
Desmoncus polyacanthos var. cuspidatus Drude
Desmoncus polyacanthos var. oxyacanthos (Mart.) Drude
Desmoncus pycnacanthos var. sarmentosus Drude
Desmoncus caespitosus Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus philippianus Barb.Rodr.
Atitara dubia Kuntze
Atitara macroacantha (Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara oligacantha (Barb.Rodr.) Kuntze
Atitara oxyacantha (Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara phengophylla (Drude) Kuntze
Atitara pycnacantha (Mart.) Kuntze
Atitara riparia (Spruce) Kuntze
Atitara setosa (Mart.) Kuntze
Desmoncus inermis Barb.Rodr.
Atitara aerea (Drude) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara caespitosa (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara inermis (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara leptoclona (Drude) Barb.Rodr.
Atitara paraensis Barb.Rodr.
Atitara philippiana (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus paraensis (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.
Desmoncus ulei Dammer
Desmoncus brevisectus Burret
Desmoncus campylacanthus Burret
Desmoncus dasyacanthus Burret
Desmoncus latisectus Burret
Desmoncus longisectus Burret
Desmoncus prestoei L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus peraltus L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus maguirei L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus mirandanus L.H.Bailey
Desmoncus duidensis Steyerm.
Desmoncus prunifer Poepp. ex Mart.
Atitara prunifera (Poepp. ex Mart.) Kuntze |
Close
Desmoncus polyacanthos is found in Colombia, Venezuela, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru.[1][5] The stems are used for baskets and sieves.[5]
