Leaf anatomy of 23 species of the genus Astrocaryum and of the two species of the genus Hexopetion is described. A total of 109 characters with at least one difference between species are reported from the lamina (83), main rib (11), petiole (9) and sheath (6). An identification key to species is given based on leaf anatomy. Distribution of the characters is discussed in order to evaluate their taxonomic relevance.

Esta es probablemente la familia más conspicua por la forma de sus integrantes. La familia Arecaceae es reconocida en el Perú con 33 géneros y 155 especies (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993), mayormente de porte arbóreo o arbustivo. En este trabajo reconocemos nueve endemismos en seis géneros. Estos taxones endémicos ocupan las áreas bajas de la Amazonía y bosques montanos del lado oriental, entre los 130 y 3000 m de altitud. Tres de estas especies se encuentran representadas en un área natural protegida.

Leaf anatomy of 23 species of the genus Astrocaryum and of the two species of the genus Hexopetion is described. A total of 109 characters with at least one difference between species are reported from the lamina (83), main rib (11), petiole (9) and sheath (6). An identification key to species is given based on leaf anatomy. Distribution of the characters is discussed in order to evaluate their taxonomic relevance.

Thirty genera and 155 species of palms are known from Peru (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993). Here we recognize nine endemic species in six genera. These endemic taxa occupy the Humid Amazonian, and Montane Forest ecological regions, between 130 and 3000 m elevation. Three of these species have been recorded within a protected area.

Astrocaryum ulei, previously known from Brazil and Bolivia, is here reported from Madre de Dios in Peru. Based on the new material collected it has been possible to write an amended description of this species, which is presented here.

Astrocaryum ulei, previously known from Brazil and Bolivia, is here reported from Madre de Dios in Peru. Based on the new material collected it has been possible to write an amended description of this species, which is presented here.

El presente artículo muestra el conocimiento e importancia de las palmeras en la vida de los nativos Asháninkas. Presentamos una descripción cualitativa y cuantitativa de 32 entrevistas, obtenidos durante la visita a siete comunidades nativas ubicadas en los márgenes de los ríos Perené y Tambo en el departamento Junín, Perú. Registramos 15 especies de palmeras usadas por los Asháninkas, agrupadas bajo cinco categorías de uso: alimenticio, construcción, herramienta, ornamental y medicinal. Las especies con usos más amplios son: Attalea phalerata, Bactris gasipaes, Oenocarpus bataua y Socratea exorhiza. Las partes de las palmeras más utilizadas son los frutos, principalmente gracias a su valor comestible. La cercanía de las comunidades Asháninkas del valle del Perené a ciudades, influirían en un cambio en el tipo de vida tradicional, donde las palmeras son los más importa...

Ceroxylon weberbaueri Burret, a poorly known species, is recollected from its type locality. An amended des- cription is provided and the species is neotypified.

Se evalúan los cambios de morfología de los órganos vegetativos de la palmera Astrocaryum perangustatum en relación a la deforestación al comparar una muestra de 60 palmeras (30 en áreas de bosque y 30 en pastizales) de la región de Pozuzo (Pasco, Perú). Múltiples parámetros morfológicos (número de hojas, largo del tallo y de las hojas, largo y ancho de las pinnas proximales, ancho de las pinnas mediales, tamaño de los aguijones en palmeras adultas, número y tamaño de las hojas de las plántulas) se revelan significativamente diferentes entre las palmeras que crecen en el bosque y aquellas que crecen en los pastizales. Se discute la variabilidad en la morfología de las partes vegetativas en relación a las condiciones del entorno. Se compara la variabilidad morfológica encontrada en la región de Pozuzo con la obtenida de muestras de herbario recolectadas en toda el áre...

The anatomy of the unopened spear leaf of the chambira palm (Astrocaryum chambira), from which chambira fiber is extracted, is described and compared with that of three species (Astrocaryum jauari, occasionally used for fiber extraction, A. standleyanum and A. perangustatum, which do not provide any fiber). Chambira fiber consists of non-vascular fiber strands closely adhered to the adaxial hypodermis; this forms a compact unit, which makes it easy to separate from the rest of the lamina. A similar arrangement is found in Astrocaryum jauari; however, the non-vascular fiber cells are shorter and fewer per strand. Differences in leaf anatomy of Astrocaryum standleyanum and A. perangustatum may explain why fiber is not extracted: Astrocaryum standleyanum has a dense row of non-vascular fibrous strands under the adaxial hypodermis similar to Astrocaryum chambira but the large size of non-vas...

The genus Hexopetion was described by Burret to accommodate a single species, H. mexicanum. We reinstate the genus on the basis of morphological and anatomical data, and enlarge it to include a second species, Astrocaryum alatum, for which a new combination is made.

The current situation concerning research in ethnobotany and economic botany of Peruvian palms is analyzed through a review of the literature with emphasis on knowledge related to uses and vernacular names. Of the 136 Peruvian palm species, 104 have at least one use. A total of 268 different uses distributed in 16 categories were registered. The most frequent categories are "construction", "edible", "craft industry" and "medicinal". There are 109 palm species with at least one vernacular name in Peru. The consulted literature is analyzed in four categories: (i) general studies in economic botany, (ii) ethnographic and ethnobiological studies, (iii) studies of South-American palms of economic interest, (iv) studies that exclusively deal with the useful Peruvian palms. Ethnobotanical knowledge of Peruvian palms proves to be essentially descriptive, with much repetitive information. Studies...

Vegetative quantitative characters from adult, juvenile II, juvenile I and seedlings of Astrocaryum chonta and Astrocaryum javarense for four populations of Jenaro Herrera were analyzed in order to observe the patterns of vegetative variation at intra and interspecific level. The biometric data were analyzed using ANOVA (p<0.05 and 0.01). At intraspecific level the 37% and 64% of vegetative characters are significantly different in Astrocaryum chonta and Astrocaryum javarense, while at interspecific level the 81% are significantly different.

El proceso de ramificación basal de Astrocaryum carnosum y A. huicungo es descrito y su frecuencia y expresión estructural es analizado en el nivel poblacional. Dos poblaciones de palmeras fueron utilizadas en este estudio, A. carnosum del valle del Alto Huallaga y A. huicungo del valle del Alto Mayo. Los sistemas de ramificación subterráneos fueron examinados y dibujados. Para ambas especies, se establecieron 25 cuadrantes de 20x20 m, en los cuales se contó el número de individuos solitarios y cespitosos, y para estos últimos se registró el número de ejes que conformaban el individuo. Los ejes tanto de los individuos solitarios como de los cespitosos se repartieron por estadio de desarrollo (plántula/juvenil-1/juvenil-2/adulto). El proceso de ramificación basal comienza en individuos al estadio juvenil-2, no se observó en juvenil-1, ni en plántula. A. huicungo presentó may...

En la palmera cespitosa Astrocaryum carnosum se describe y compara la morfología y anatomía foliar  entre ejes producidos por semilla y ejes producidos por ramificación basal en tres fases de desarrollo; fase 1: hojas enteras, fase 2: hojas irregularmente pinnadas con 2 a 6 pares pinnas y fase 3 con 7 a 21 pares de pinnas). En cada caso se midieron cuatro parámetros morfológicos y 14 parámetros anatómicos para la fase 1; y 12 parámetros morfológicos y 14 parámetros anatómicos para las fases 2 y 3. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (p<0.05) en el número de hojas, largo del pecíolo, largo de la lámina, ancho de la pinna basal y media, espesor del parénquima esponjoso, tamaño del paquete de fibras no vasculares y densidad estomática.

Vegetative quantitative characters from adult, juvenile II, juvenile I and seedlings of Astrocaryum chonta and Astrocaryum javarense for four populations of Jenaro Herrera were analyzed in order to observe the patterns of vegetative variation at intra and interspecific level. The biometric data were analyzed using ANOVA (p<0.05 and 0.01). At intraspecific level the 37% and 64% of vegetative characters are significantly different in Astrocaryum chonta and Astrocaryum javarense, while at interspecific level the 81% are significantly different.

The basal branching process of Astrocaryum carnosum and A. huicungo is described and its rate and structural expression at the population level is analyzed. Two populations of palms were used in this study, A. carnosum from the Alto Huallaga valley and A. huicungo from the Alto Mayo valley. Branching systems underground were exposed and drawn. For both species, it was established 25 quadrants of 20x20m, in which were counted (i) the number of solitary and caespitose individuals, and (ii) the numbers of axes composing the caespitose individuals. The axes of solitary and caespitose individuals were distributed by growth stages (seedling/juvenile-1/juvenile-2/adult). Seedling and juvenile-1 are not caespitose, basal branching starts in juvenile-2. A. huicungo presents a higher density of axes produced by basal branching than A. carnosum. This branching process in both species by formations ...

For the caespitose palm Astrocaryum carnosum are described and compared the foliar morphology and anatomy between axes produced by seed and basal branching in three stages of development; stage 1: with entire leaves; stage 2: with 2–6 pairs of irregular pinnae and stage 3: with 7–21 pairs of pinnae. For each case were considered four morphological and 14 anatomical parameters for phase 1; and 12 morphological and 14 anatomical parameters for phases 2 and 3. Significant differences (p 0.05) were found in the number of leaves, length of petiole, length of lamina, width of basal and middle pinna, thickness of spongy parenchyma, size of non–vascular fibers bundles and stomatal density.

Variation in vegetative morphology of the palm Astrocaryum perangustatum as a response to deforestation was evaluated from a sample of 60 individuals (30 in forest and 30 in pasture) located in the Pozuzo region of Pasco, Peru. Several parameters are significantly different between palms growing in the forest understory and those growing in pasture. These include: number of leaves in the crown, length of the stem, of the leaves, length and width of proximal pinnae, width of medial pinnae, size of spines in adult palms, and number and length of leaves in seedlings. Variation in vegetative morphology of Astrocaryum perangustatum between forest and pasture is discussed in relation to environmental conditions. Morphological variability in the Pozuzo region is compared with that obtained from herbarium vouchers collected throughout the distribution area of the species.

The anatomy of the unopened spear leaf of the chambira palm (Astrocaryum chambira), from which chambira fiber is extracted, is described and compared with that of three species (Astrocaryum jauari, occasionally used for fiber extraction, A. standleyanum and A. perangustatum, which do not provide any fiber). Chambira fiber consists of non-vascular fiber strands closely adhered to the adaxial hypodermis; this forms a compact unit, which makes it easy to separate from the rest of the lamina. A similar arrangement is found in Astrocaryum jauari; however, the non-vascular fiber cells are shorter and fewer per strand. Differences in leaf anatomy of Astrocaryum standleyanum and A. perangustatum may explain why fiber is not extracted: Astrocaryum standleyanum has a dense row of non-vascular fibrous strands under the adaxial hypodermis similar to Astrocaryum chambira but the large size of non-vas...