Arecaceae

High peroxidase activity was demonstrated to be present in the leaf of several species of cold-resistant palms. Histochemical studies of the leaf of windmill palm tree (Trachycarpus fortunei) showed the peroxidase activity to be localized in hypoderma, epidermis, cell walls, and conducting bundles. However, chlorophyll-containing mesophyll cells had no peroxidase at all. The leaf windmill palm tree peroxidase (WPTP) was purified to homogeneity and had a specific activity of 6230 units/mg, RZ = 3.0, a molecular mass of 50 kDa, and an isoelectric point of pI 3.5. The electronic spectrum of WPTP with a Soret band at 403 nm was typical of plant peroxidases. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of WPTP was determined. The substrate specificity of WPTP was distinct from that of other palm peroxidases, and the best substrate for WPTP was 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid). The palm peroxidase showed an unusually high stability at elevated temperatures and high concentrations of guanidine.

Dragon's blood is one of the renowned traditional medicines used in different cultures of world. It has got several therapeutic uses: haemostatic, antidiarrhetic, antiulcer, antimicrobial, antiviral, wound healing, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, etc. ...

Richness, ethnobotany and potential production were part of a two-year project carried out in the locality of Tumupasa (Dept. La Paz), NW Bolivia. Ethnobotanical interviews to the Tacana people were applied in order to register useful species. Between 2013-2014 twelve Gentry plots were established in order to analyze population structure of five selected useful palms: Iriartea deltoidea, Euterpe longivaginata, Geonoma deversa, Bactris gasipaes, and Phytelephas tenuicaulis. A total of 29 palm species (5 introduced and 24 native) were recorded, with 94% of arecoids and they are mostly related with forests that host the major part of this palm richness. Twenty three palms are used by local communities andwere included into eight uses categories: food (29%), construction materials (17%) and animal food (14%), among others. Keys to Geonoma and Bactris species were contributed. Selected palm species showed regenerative populations, but there is a need for follow-up programs in order to conserve these important natural resources.

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.

Esta es una clave sencilla para identificar las palmas nativas de la Península de Yucatán. En ningún caso es esencial el uso de partes reproductivas para la identificación de los géneros, pero se añade ocasionalmente información sobre la inflorescencia o
frutos como un complemento. Se usan características macroscópicas y no hace falta el uso de lupa o instrumentos de medición ya que las medidas pueden ser estimadas grosso modo. El uso de términos técnicos se reduce al máximo o se explican entre corchetes []. En la clave se combinan números (para los géneros) y letras en el caso que existan más de dos especies para un mismo género. Se incluye en forma abreviada información sobre la distribución de cada especie: Campeche (Camp.), Quintana Roo (Q. Roo) y Yucatán (Yuc.). Los nombre científicos de cada especie se indican de acuerdo a Govaerts et al. (2012) y los nombres comunes según Quero Rico & Flores (2004) y Carnevali et al. (2010).

Major categories of uses of native Arecaceae to Bolivia are registered based on 252 records. Fifty eight palm species - which represents the 67% of total) are used under 10 categories, namely food (fruits, palmheart and beverages), medicinal, fuel, ornamental, construction materials (thatch and structure), utensils, handicrafts, toys, animal food, and ceremonial. Also 24 species known as the most utilized by people were considered with more information in regards to their uses; animal food represents the 16%, food for local communities (14%), construction materials (13%), ornamental and handicrafts (both with 10% ea.), oils (7%), cosmetic (4%), toys and ceremonial (both with 3% ea). Finally, seven study cases were included written by L.R. Moreno & O. I. Moreno, R. Hurtado, M. Toledo, F. Montoya, Z. Pérez, E. Blacutt, N. Paniagua-Zambrana et al.

A total of 24 genera and 110 species have been recorded in the Andes above 1000 m elevation, corresponding to 37% and 15% of the genera and species, respectively, of palms in the Americas. Most of these genera have their distribution centre outside the Andean region, but for seven genera more than 2/3 of their species occur in the Andes and four genera (Aiphanes, Ceroxylon, Parajubaea y Wettinia) have their centre of distribution in the Andes. The highest diversity is found in the Andes of Colombia (80 species and 20 genera of palms) diminishing towards Venzuela and Bolivia. Uses of one or more categories are reported in the literature for 42 Andean palm species representing all genera found in the region. Most common use categories are food (fruits, palm heart, vegetable oil), medicine, construction material and raw material for handicrafts. The economically most important uses include Ceroxylon leaves for easter processions, Geonoma leaves for flower decorations, and Phytelephas seeds for vegetable ivory. Formerly Prestoa palm-heart was an important product in some regions, but this has now been replaced by harvest of cultivated Bactris gasipaes. The history of usage of Andean palms has been characterised by a series of 'boom-and-bust' developments and there is a need to develop strategies and management schemes for sustainable resource utilisation, particularly of Ceroxylon and Geonoma species, in order to create a stable source of income in rural areas of the Andes. Resumen En los Andes y por encima de 1.000 m de altitud se ha registrado un total de 24 géneros y 110 especies de palmeras, que significan el 37% y 15%, respectivamente de la riqueza total reportada para el continente americano. La mayoría de los géneros representados en los Andes tienen su centro de diversidad fuera de esa región, pero siete géneros poseen más de 2/3 de sus especies en la región andina y cuatro géneros (Aiphanes, Ceroxylon, Parajubaea y Wettinia) tienen su centro andino de distribución. Latitudinalmente se tiene el mayor número de especies y endemismos en Colombia (con más de 80 especies y 20 géneros), para luego decrecer ambos hacia Venezuela y Bolivia. Según la información consultada, todos los géneros andinos tienen una o más categorías de uso y en total son 42 especies, siendo las principales las alimenticias (frutos, palmito, aceites), medicinal, material de construcción y artesanal, entre otros. Los usos económicos más importantes incluyen la cosecha de hojas de Ceroxylon para Pascua, hojas de Geonoma para decoración floral y semillas de Phytelephas como marfil vegetal. Históricamente, el uso de derivados de palmeras andinas se caracteriza por un síndrome de auge y explosión, por lo que para crear una fuente estable de ingresos para las áreas rurales de los Andes se requieren estrategias de desarrollo y esquemas de manejo para el uso sostenible de recursos naturales, particularmente para las especies de Ceroxylon y Geonoma.

A series of experiments were conducted to compare the pore development in palm-shell and coconut-shell-based activated carbons produced under identical experimental conditions. Carbonization and activation processes were carried out at 850 °C using a fluidized bed reactor. Within ...

Energy cost is one of the major costs in biodegradable disposables manufacturing. Leaf Plus Pvt. Ltd. has been manufacturing biodegradable disposables made from areca leaves for three years in Nepal. This industry has been taken as a case study for our research. It was observed that energy cost can be reduced mainly through four methods: Construction of Natural Construction Green House Solar dyer for leaf drying, Construction of Leaf Holding Centers for reduction in leaf transportation fuel cost, installation of capacitor bank for decreasing demand charge & load shifting for reduction of electricity cost. The implementation of these strategies resulted in decrease in energy cost by 7 percentage resulting in decrease in product cost by 4 percentage.

The assessment of biological diversity requires valid names and taxonomic systems upgraded for a correct species identification, scientific documentation and decision making for conservation purposes. In terms of the South American region, the registration of the family Arecaceae has been modified according to new findings, based on morphological comparisons and molecular analysis of some groups. The total list of species of Bolivian native palms is updated based on recently published taxonomic contributions, regional surveys and review of undetermined herbarium material for new records. Changes in the genera Astrocaryum, Attalea, Bactris, Ceroxylon, Desmoncus, Euterpe, and Geonoma as well as for the species Acrocomia totai, Astrocaryum arenarium, Oenocarpus minor, and Phytelephas tenuicaulis are reported. A taxonomic treatment of the genus Attalea that occur in the region formed by Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador is still ongoing; and there are also new taxonomic arrangements for the neotropical genus Syagrus. Eight new records are added to Bolivia: Attalea bassleriana, A. moorei, A. peruviana, A. aff. tessmannii, Euterpe catinga, E. oleracea, Geonoma solitaria, and Phytelephas tenuicaulis. A total of 100 palm species of Bolivia is established that are included in 28 genera; the most speciose genera are Bactris and Geonoma with 16 and 14 species. While progress has been made on the contribution of native species, there are still unexplored areas and its confirmation is required.
Key words: Bolivian palms, new list of species, taxonomic contributions.