Palms

Dwarf fan palm (Chamaerops humilis L.) is an important Mediterranean species well known for many uses such as gardening, environmental restoration, and technological uses. Dwarf fan palm is usually propagated from seed, which takes up to 100 days to germinate. The germination pattern of dwarf palm seeds was studied during a 100-days length period in relation to different pre-sowing treatments (hot water, sulphuric acid, or mechanical scarification) in comparison to untreated control. A covariance analysis was performed to test the effect of time within seed-treatment treatment. All germination patterns were significantly fitted by a S-shaped (sigmoidal) distribution function with the general equation y=β+α/(1+exp(-(x-μ)/s)). Treatment with sulphuric acid significantly increased the final germination in comparison to untreated control. No differences were observed in % germination among the other seed treatments. Seed treatments increased by three- to seven-fold the maximum germination rate and reduced by 26% the mean germination time in comparison to untreated control. The reduction in mean germination time, and the increase in percentage germination and germination rate may have economical implication in the production of dwarf palm and its involvement in environmental restoration strategies, with no need to use dangerous or expensive acid pre-treatment in order to increase the propagation success.

The African palm fossil record is limited but the data provide an outline of palm evolution from the Late Cretaceous through the Neogene. Pollen attributed to palms is reported from the Aptian (125–112 Mya), but the earliest unequivocal record in Africa is Campanian (83.5–70.6 Mya). Palms diversified 83.5–65.5 Mya and became widespread, although most records are from the west and north African coasts. Many taxa were shared between Africa and northern South America at that time, but a few were pantropical. Extirpations occurred throughout the Palaeogene, including a notable species turnover and decline at the Eocene–Oligocene boundary (33.9 Mya), a change that resulted in the elimination of nypoid palms from Africa. The Neogene plant macrofossil record is better sampled than the Palaeogene, although few palms are documented. Thus, the low diversity of African palms today is more likely the result of Palaeogene, rather than Neogene extinctions. Newly discovered palm fossils of leaves, petioles and flowers from the Late Oligocene (27–28 Mya) of north-western Ethiopia document the abundance and dominance of palms in some communities at that time. The fossils represent the earliest records of the extant genera Hyphaene (Coryphoideae) and Eremospatha (Calamoideae). © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 151, 69–81.

Palms (Arecaceae) are iconic plant fossils, providing evidence of warm climates in the geological past in geographical areas that today support temperate, boreal or even polar climates. Fossil palm leaves are well known from Paleocene sites in the U.S.A., including Montana, Washington, and Alaska. Palm megafossils are unknown, however, from the Canadian Paleocene. Here, palms from the Scollard Formation of Alberta are described and illustrated from the early Paleocene Genesee locality, central Alberta. These fossil palm leaves are fan palms (Subfamily Coryphoideae), but the limited diagnostic information of leaf fragments prevents assignment to a palm tribe. The Genesee megaflora represents a broad-leaf deciduous boreal forest growing under a temperate moist climate. The Genesee palm fossils demonstrate the northernmost Paleocene palms known from leaf fossils east of the Rocky Mountains, and are tiny at b 15 cm, likely reflecting plants growing at their cold northern limit.

Many research works are being carried out to enhance the performances of internal combustion engines to meet out the current energy demand and to reduce the emission with the alternate fuels. Energy production is heavily dependent on fossil fuels that are not only diminishing, but also are considered the main cause of harmful emissions and global warming. Therefore using vegetable oils such as Jatropha, palm, algae and waste cooking oils as alternative fuels in diesel engines has drawn a great attention. Biodiesel from Jatropha, palm, algae and waste cooking oils is produced using the transesterification process. Biodiesel fuel is one of the environmentally friendly alternative energy that can reduce toxic gas emissions and at the same time reduces dependence on petroleum-based fuels. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of biodiesel as an alternative fuel for diesel engine applications. A significant number of literatures from various journals were cited accordingly. The results of previous studies had shown that the use of biodiesel would mostly increase the amount of brake specific fuel consumption and nitrogen oxide gas while conversely reducing other toxic gas emissions. The study concluded that biodiesel and its blends have a bright future in the marine sector, provided some of the highlighted issues can be solved.

El cultivo de la palma de chontaduro (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) presenta dos especies de gorgojos que barrenan y ocasionan la caída prematura de los frutos en formación, causando pérdidas de hasta el 100% de la producción. Palmelampius heinrichi y Parisoschoenus bactrisae son la principal plaga del cultivo en toda la costa pacífica y en vastas regiones de la amazonia. Actualmente las medidas de control están centradas en la utilización de insecticidas de amplio espectro que han generado una serie de desequilibrios ecológicos tales como la resurgencia del complejo de plagas Dynamis borassi, Rhynchophorus palmarum y Rhynosthomus barbirostris que están barrenando el estipe de las palmas y causando el marchitamiento masivo de las plantaciones en varias regiones del litoral pacífico. Para esto se implementó un programa de manejo integrado de plagas con métodos de control cultural, biológico (hongos entomopatógenos) y físico (embolsado de racimos) para el control de P. heinrichi y P. bactrisae. El embolsado de las inflorescencias desde el suelo se hizo oportunamente 24 horas después de ocurrida la polinización, lo cual permitió una producción de frutos 100% libres de residuos tóxicos en fincas de productores. De un total de 8476 racimos embolsados, se cosecharon 7 350 racimos, con un 86.7% de efectividad. Igualmente se evaluó una cepa de Metarrhizium anisopliae sobre adultos, a una concentración de 2x1010 conidias/ml, que causó mortalidades superiores a 91%, cuando se aplicó al suelo sobre frutos desgranados, esto con el fin de no afectar a los insectos polinizadores. El grado de apropiación de la tecnología fue del 90% en los agricultores capacitados (562 personas) adoptando la tecnología en los ríos Guapi, Napi, Timbiquí y Anchicayá. Se presenta un resumen de las principales plagas del cultivo de chontaduro en la Costa Pacífica de Colombia.

Oil palm is the best oil-containing crop in terms of yield capacity, even though planting oil palms won't give immediate returns. The crop's productivity depends on tree species, soil type, climatic conditions, oil palm plantation management, and cultivation practices.In fact, the cost inputs during the first thirty months (prior to the first harvesting) are rewarded with up to 25 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per hectar (i.e. 1.48 Bigha) in mature trees. Global production and demand for palm oil are increasing rapidly. The cultivation of palm oil is more advantageous than other vegetable crops like soy, sunflower and mustard, with 4-10 times the output per unit of land. This makes its cultivation critical to global food security and nutrition.

Inasmuch as motives for physical activity and leisure participation have been a well-explored research area in occidental and oriental countries, a very limited data was available in the Philippines specifically on pre-service physical educators. The aim of this study was to analyze the motives for physical activity and leisure (PAL) participation of pre-service physical educators of a certain Philippine state university. One hundred ten Filipino preservice physical educators (male = 34; females = 76) with a mean age of 19.7 years old responded to the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (Morris & Rogers, 2004). Mean scores revealed that physical condition is the most identified motive while
competition/ego is the least. T test independent sample revealed no significant differences between male and female perceptions on their PAL participation. Also, ANOVA indicated no significant differences on any subscale when grouped according to their age. Lastly, through
Pearson correlation, certain subscales revealed significant relationship with the others except for psychological motive as can be seen in the study. This may serve as a baseline data in crafting plans and targets to further the PAL participation of Filipino pre-service physical
educators putting into premium their motives to undertake such.

Fourteen new species of palms (Arecaceae) from Madagascar are described and named, based on material collected over the last 15 years. Twelve species belong to the genus Dypsis, namely D. andilamenensis Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. anjae Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. betsimisarakae Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. culminis Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. dracaenoides Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. gautieri Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. gronophyllum Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. jeremiei Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. metallica Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. reflexa Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf., D. sancta Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and D. vonitrandambo Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and two species belong to the genus Ravenea: R. beentjei Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. and R. hypoleuca Rakotoarin. & J. Dransf. Despite the fact that most of these species have been recorded from protected areas that are difficult to access in the eastern region of Madagasacar, they are all threatened. Based on IUCN categories and criteria, seven are Critically Endangered and seven are Vulnerable.

Now day’s natural fibres as reinforcement have received more attention from the research community all
over the world in preparing polymer composites. These natural fibres have lot of advantages over synthetic
fibres. In this paper two natural fibers palm and coir reinforced composites were fabricated using compression
moulding method which was a new effort and was not done elsewhere. Specimens were cut from
the fabricated composite plates according to the ASTM standards. Universal Testing Machine was used for
testing tensile and flexural strength of the composites. The impact strength of the composites was analyzed
using Impact tester. Further wear and moisture absorption tests were also conducted on the prepared
specimen. The results obtained through experimentation of both composites were compared and presented.
It can be concluded that the developed palm based composite possess superior property and can be recommended
for fabrication of light weight high strength automobile parts.

Sap is a watery fluid that transports plant photosynthetic products towards various tissues
to support growth. Tapping palms for their sap is reported to have originated from India
approximately 4,000 years ago. Palm sap is rich in sugars with some inorganics and nutrients,
which are attractive components for bioethanol production. Based on advances and current
knowledge on the availability, collection, yield, and exploitation of various palm saps, this
article evaluates their potential and sustainability as feedstocks for bioethanol production

Role of mammals on seed dispersal and predation processes of Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae) in the Colombian Amazon. Mammals and palms are important elements of fauna and flora in the Neotropics, and their interactions, such as fruit consumption and seed dispersal, are one of the most important ecological relationships in these ecosystems. The main objective of this study was to identify the relative importance of mammals in the dispersal and predation of Mauritia flexuosa palm fruits. We installed camera-traps in front of palm fallen seeds and clusters with fruits. A catalog of species was prepared with the recorded videos and the foraging behaviors exhibited were classified and identified. In addition, two exclusion treatments with three repetitions each were used. In the semi-open treatment, a plot was fenced with metal mesh leaving four open- ings in order to allow access only to small and medium sized mammals, while in the open treatment, the small, medium and large sized mammals had free access. In both cases, seed removal was evaluated. We recorded a total of 19 species of mammals, nine of which fed on palm fruits and the other five were seed dispersers. We reported for the first time the consumption of Mauritia flexuosa fruits by Atelocynus microtis. The species with the highest relative importance was Dasyprocta fuliginosa, which showed the highest percentage of seed dispersal (63.5%) compared to the other species. Tayassu peccary was identified as an in situ consumer, eating 45.3% of seeds without dispersing them. The number of seeds consumed in situ in the open treatment showed significant differences regarding the semi-open treatment, suggesting greater involvement of large mammals in this process. In conclusion, the fruits of M. flexuosa are an important food source for the local mammal community. Additionally, the consumption of seeds under the canopy of the mother palm is proportionally greater than their dispersion. Generally, the pressure of frugivorous species over seeds may determine the reproductive strategies of plants. However, research on effective dispersion, dispersal distances and demographic impact should be conducted to determine the specific role of medium and large sized mammals in the ecology of this palm. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (1): 5-15. Epub 2016 March 01.

The coastal and hilly sectors in the province of Messina Province and the Aeolian Archipelago have been explored, in order to obtain up-to-date information on the distribution of the populations of Chamaerops humilis in NE Sicily and on their site conditions. In addition to the field surveys, any local toponym possibly related to the Sicilian vernacular names of the dwarf palm was checked and verified throughout the investigated area. The total absence of the species along the coasts of Nebrodi Massif is confirmed. Of the 9 extant populations, 4 are located on Aeolian Islands, 2 along the Ionian coast and 3 along the Tyrrhenian coast of Peloritani Mountains: among them, the one of Capo Calavà represents a new record. The co-occurrence of centuries-long human disturbance and several forms of environmental stresses (e.g. prevalence of incoherent substrates) could be the reason for the relict connotation of most of the considered populations, which also are very discontinuous and consisting of small patches formed by a few individuals, in simplified and species-poor assemblages, mostly found on sea-facing rocky cliffs. On the other hand, the recent spread of Chamaerops humilis in Lipari could be related to the abandonment agricultural practices. Finally, the naturalisation cases recorded in Milazzo, Tindari, Panarea, Scaletta Zanclea and Taormina, where the dwarf palm escaped from public and private gardens, point out the urgent need of regulating its introduction, in order to avoid the genetic pollution of the autochthonous populations.

This paper is a survey of Arecaceae family in Rio Grande do Sul state. We recognize 15 native species in this state (Bactris setosa, Butia catarinensis, B. eriospatha, B. exilata, B. lallemantii, B. odorata, B. paraguayensis, B. witeckii, B. yatay, Euterpe edulis, Geonoma gamiova, G. schottiana, Syagrus romanzoffiana, Trithrinax acanthocoma and T. brasiliensis). Three species were excluded from Rio Grande do Sul flora (Acrocomia aculeata, A. totai and Butia microspadix), three names were considered synonyms (Butia missionera, B. pulposa and B. quaraimana); Butia stolonifera was considered a doubtful specie. Two natural hybrids are recognized, one of them being described in this work (x Butyagrus alegretensis and × Butyagrus nabonnandii).

Daemonorops is one of the largest genus of palms, widely distributed in tropical evergreen forests of South and Southeast Asia and especially abundant in peninsular Malaysia. It shares the phylogenetic clade with genus Calamus, but distinctly characterized by the presence of the prophyllar bracts in subtribe Calaminae of family Arecaceae (Palmae). However, the species of Daemonorops are highly variable and homoplasious in their morphological characters. Indian Daemonorops has six species, of which five distributed in Andaman group of islands and one in Indo-China. The study mainly focused on the species of Indo-Myanmar (Andaman Islands) because they have showed uncertainty in their stand as distinct species. Hence it was attempted to test the species delimitation in congenerics using phylogenetic and character analysis of the nuclear genes. The study indicates three species of both Griffith and Beccari (D. jenkinsiana, D. manii, and D. kurziana) in India, and another three species of Renuka et al. (D. wrightmyoensis, D. aurea, and D. rarispinosa) from Andaman group of islands could be the variabilities of D. manii that is colonized throughout the archipelago.

Trachycarpus fortunei (windmill palm) is one of the most widely distributed and widely used palms in East Asia. In order to find further uses for the palm’s fibers, however, more information on their mechanical and anatomical properties is needed. With this in mind, tensile strength and Young’s modulus of windmill palm fiber bundles were investigated and the structural implications considered. The anatomical features in cross-section, the fracture mode, and the microfibril angle (MFA) of natural fiber bundles were determined. The transverse sectional area occupied by fibers in a fiber bundles (S F) contributes to mechanical strength in practice. It was found that the ratio of S F to the transverse sectional area of a fiber bundle dramatically increases with a decrease in bundle diameter. Therefore, tensile strength and Young’s modulus of an individual fiber bundle in this species increase in parallel with a decrease in fiber bundle diameter. The observed MFA features might have a relationship with the biomechanical movements of fiber bundles in the windmill palm. The potential uses of windmill palm fibers have been discussed.

Palms form a vital component of forest and agricultural ecosystem, providing a wide range of
economic products necessary for daily life. Recently, there is a growing popularity for palm
cultivation, both for indoor and outdoor decoration, and exotic palm species are being introduced at
a steady stream. India has 20 genera and 96 species of palms. The city of Ahmedabad is situated on
23.01° N Latitude and 72.61° East Longitude in 8,086.81 sq. km area with 197 gardens, on the bank
of river Sabarmati.In the present study, 71 species and 7 cultivated varieties belonging to 38 genera
were recorded from Ahmedabad district. Among them 25 genera and 61 species are newly reported
in Ahmedabad district. Phoenixwasreported as the largest genuswith 8 species followed by Licuala
with7 species, Livistonawith5 species and the rest with less than 3 species each.

Fossil palms provide qualitative evidence of (subtropical al conditions and frost-free winters in the geological past, including modern cold climate regions (e.g., boreal, or polar climates). The freeze intolerance of palms varies across different organs and life stages, with seedlings in particular less tolerant of sub-zero temperatures than adult plants, limiting successful establishment of populations while permitting adult palms to survive in cultivation outside their natural ranges. Quantitatively, palms indicate minimum cold month mean temperature (CMMT) at 2–8 °C in palaeoclimate reconstructions. These data have accentuated model-proxy mismatches for high latitudes during Paleogene hyperthermals when palms expanded poleward in both hemispheres. We constructed a manually filtered dataset of >20,000 georeferenced Arecaceae records, by eliminating cultivars. Statistically derived mean annual temperature, mean annual temperature range, and CMMT thresholds for the Arecaceae and lower rank subfamilies and tribes reveal large differences in temperature sensitivity depending on lower taxonomic classification. Cold tolerant tribes such as the Trachycarpeae produce thresholds as low as CMMT ≥ 2.2 °C. However, within the palm family, CMMT < 5 °C is anomalous. Moreover, palm expansion into temperate biomes is likely a post-Palaeogene event. We recognize a CMMT ≥ 5.2 °C threshold for the palm family, unless a lower taxonomic rank can be assigned.