Bactris caudata

Bactris caudata
Preserved specimen of Bactris caudata, consisting of dried brown leaves and twigs
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Bactris
Species:
B. caudata
Binomial name
Bactris caudata
Synonyms
  • Bactris dasychaeta Burret

Bactris caudata is a species of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae. It is a shrub or tree with spiny leaves, compact inflorescences, and orange-red fruits. The species is native to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Bactris caudata was described in 1934, and is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

Taxonomy

The species was first validly published by Max Burret in 1934, following an earlier invalid publication by Hermann Wendland.

Distribution

Bactris caudata is native to the wet tropical biome of Costa Rica (Alajuela, Cartago, and Heredia), Nicaragua (Río San Juan and Zelaya), and Panama (Bocas del Toro).

Bactris caudata is found in lowland and pre-montane tropical forests, at elevations of up to 1,300 metres (4,300 ft).

Description

Bactris caudata is a shrub or tree with solitary or clustered stems. It grows 1–6 metres (3.3–19.7 ft) high, and 2–2.4 centimetres (0.79–0.94 in) wide. The stems sometimes have spines.

The plant has five to eight leaves, which have nineteen to twenty-six pinnae on each side, and scattered black spines. The pinnae are arranged into irregular clusters. The spines are up to 6.5 centimetres (2.6 in) long. The leaf stems are 40–54 centimetres (16–21 in) long.

The inflorescences are compact, and grow on curved stems that are up to 11 centimetres (4.3 in) long. The female flowers are up to 3.5 millimetres (0.14 in) long. The calyx is cup-shaped, and up to 0.5 millimetres (0.020 in) long. The corolla is tube-shaped, and 2.5–3 millimetres (0.098–0.118 in) long. The plant flowers in February, April, June, August and November.

The fruits are orange-red, obovoid, 0.9–1.3 centimetres (0.35–0.51 in) long, and 1–1.2 centimetres (0.39–0.47 in) wide.

Conservation

In 2021, the IUCN assessed Bactris caudata as Near Threatened. It is threatened by habitat loss. The species is found in protected areas, including Indio Maíz Biological Reserve, Cerro Silva Natural Reserve, La Selva Biological Station, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and Chagres National Park.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Zamora, N.A. (2021). "Bactris caudata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T151997330A162575533. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T151997330A162575533.en. Retrieved 2026-11-03.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bactris caudata". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2026-11-03.
  3. ↑ "Bactris caudata H.Wendl. ex Burret". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bactris caudata H.Wendl. ex Burret". WorldFloraOnline.org. World Flora Online. Retrieved 3 November 2026.