Novelties of the Genera Parajubaea and Syagrus (Palmae) from Interandean Valleys of Bolivia

Abstract

Two new species from the interandean valleys of Bolivia, Parajubaea sunkha and Syagrus yungasensis (Palmae), and a new variety, Paraju¬ baea torallyi var.microcarpa (Palmae), are de¬ scribed and illustrated.Resumen.Se describen e ilustran dos nuevas especies de Palmae de los valles interandinos de Bo¬ livia, Parajubaea sunkha y Syagrus yungasensis: tambien se describe la variedad Parajubaea torallyi var.microcarpa.Recent intensive fieldwork, new palm collec¬ tions, and the preparation of a Bolivian palm flora have increased information about the richness and distribution of Bolivian palms.The descriptions of two new species and one variety are included in treatments of the Bolivian palm flora by Moraes (in prep.). Parajubaea BurretParajubaea is a small genus occurring in the in¬ terandean valleys of southern Colombia, central Ec¬ uador, and central to southern Bolivia.All species are treelike, with pinnate leaves, and branched interfoliar inflorescences.The genus was studied by Moraes and Henderson (1990), and two species were recognized: P cocoides, growing in cultivated stands of Colombia and Ecuador, and P. torallyi, endemic to Bolivia.The latter species was not well understood nor looked for in other areas of Bolivia.The genus Parajubaea now includes a third species and two varieties, which are treated in the present contribution.Parajubaea torallyi has been recorded from the northeastern area of the Chuquisaca department, in southern Bolivia.Moraes and Henderson (1990) added another collection for this species from the southwest of the department of Santa Cruz, but this is treated here under a distinct species, P. sunkha.