Barcella is a monotypic genus of flowering plant in the palm family found in the States of Amazonas and Roraima in northwestern Brazil.[2] The only known species is Barcella odora which is used by the Brazilian peoples in construction and for various thatched goods.

Barcella
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Arecales
Family:	Arecaceae
Subfamily:	Arecoideae
Tribe:	Cocoseae
Genus:	Barcella (Trail) Trail ex Drude[1]
Species:	B. odora
Binomial name
Barcella odora (Trail) Drude
Synonyms[2]
Elaeis odora Trail

Description

The unarmed trunks of Barcella odora usually remain underground, producing 2 m arching leaves with pendent, lanceolate leaflets, 60 cm long and dark green in color. The leaflets are regularly arranged along the rachis, once-folded, with a prominent midrib and a tapering apex. They are monoecious with male and female flowers on a single plant, the interfoliar inflorescences are once branched with both pistilate and staminate flowers containing three sepals and three petals. The 3 cm ovoid fruit mature to a bright orange color each with one seed.

Barcella and the closely related genus Elaeis form a taxon within Cocoseae represented by their large pistilate flowers sunken in the rachillae, as well as endocarp pores. Elaeis is distinguished from Barcella by the presence of petiole spines and a fibrous, rather than woody, bract.[3]

Distribution and habitat

These palms are found at low altitudes along the Rio Negro river and its tributaries, growing in campinarana (sandy scrubland).[4]

References

External links

• Barcella on NPGS/GRIN
• Fairchild Guide to Palms: Barcella