Bactris major explained

Bactris major is a small to medium-sized (1–10 m tall) spiny palm which ranges from Mexico, through Central America into northern South America and Trinidad.^{[1] [2]} The species is divided into three^[2] or four^[1] varieties, although the boundaries between varieties is not always clearly defined.^[1]

The fruits are eaten or used to flavour drinks.^[1]

Spanish names for the palm species include marayaú.

Varieties

Rafaël Govaerts recognised three varieties:

• Bactris major var. major^[3]
• Bactris major var. infesta (Mart.) Drude^[4]
• Bactris major var. socialis (Mart.) Drude^[5]

Andrew Henderson and co-authors recognised a fourth variety, Bactris major var. megalocarpa (Trail ex Thurn) A.J.Hend.,^[1] but Govaerts considered this to be a synonym of Bactris major var. major.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Book: Henderson, Andrew . Andrew Henderson (botanist) . Gloria Galeano . Gloria Galeano . Rodrigo Bernal . Rodrigo Bernal . Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas . 1995 . Princeton University Press . Princeton, New Jersey. 0-691-08537-4 .
2. Web site: Bactris major . https://archive.today/20130802162426/http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/wcsp/namedetail.do?accepted_id=18943&repSynonym_id=-9998&name_id=18943&status=true . dead . 2013-08-02 . 2007-09-08 . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

   World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

   .
3. Web site: Bactris major var. major . https://archive.today/20130802160701/http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/wcsp/namedetail.do?accepted_id=18945&repSynonym_id=-9998&name_id=18945&status=true . dead . 2013-08-02 . 2007-09-08 . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

   World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

   .
4. Web site: Bactris major var. infesta (Mart.) Drude. 2007-09-08 . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

   World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

   .
5. Web site: Bactris major var. socialis (Mart.) Drude. 2007-09-08 . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

   World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

   .
6. Web site: Bactris major var. megalocarpa (Trail ex Thurn) A.J.Hend.. 2007-09-08 . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

   World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

   .