| Geonoma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| YoungGeonoma undata | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Subfamily: | Arecoideae |
| Tribe: | Geonomateae |
| Genus: | Geonoma Willd. |
| Species | |
64, see text | |
| Synonyms | |
GynestumPoit. | |
Geonoma is agenus of small to medium-sizedpalms native to the forestunderstorey oftropical Central and South America.
This palm genus is one of the largest in theNeotropics.[1] Its 64species are distributed fromMexico andHaiti in the north toParaguay in the south; two are found in theLesser Antilles.[2]
In South America, the leaves of species such asGeonoma deversa,Geonoma orbignyana, andGeonoma macrostachys are economically important for their use in thatching roofs.[3]
The genus is a member of the palm tribeGeonomateae (Arecaceae:Arecoideae), an importantNeotropical 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.[4] The distribution of the tribe Geonomeae stretches from southeast Mexico down through Central America and into South America, notablyBrazil andBolivia, and species are also found in the Greater and LesserAntilles.[5] This tribe consists of a group of understory and sub-canopy palms that populate both tropical lowland andmontane forests. While members of this group are relatively easy to collect, as they are not canopy palms or spiny palms, and are well represented inherbaria, the taxonomy and phylogeny of the species within the tribe are still uncertain.[6][7] The resolution of the tribe has been disputed despite the fact thatGeonomateae species are characterized by three morphologicalsynapomorphies: the petals of pistillate flowers are basally connate, the presence of slender and elongatestyles, and the flowers are borne in pits in therachillae.[8]
The following species are currently recognized:[9]
Authority control databases: National |
|---|
