Bactris pickelli

[Gileno Machado]

Last week we made a quick exploiting visit to a small Atlantic Forest reserve in Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil with some local guides, in search of eventually new and also existing palm species. This area, located near the city of Ribeirão, belongs to an old sugarcane mill and is one of the few remaining parts of the original forest, among sugarcane plantations.

During the visit, we were very lucky to find a few young and grown up specimens of the elusive Bactris pickelli palm, rarely seen in the area. This small palm thrives in dark areas of forest floor, graciously showing off its shiny leaves and has a particular characteristic of velvet underleaves, sensible to the touch.

Here are a few photos taken in habitat:

 

[Gileno Machado]

leaf detail

[Gileno Machado]

velvet underside of the leaf blade

[Gileno Machado]

[Gileno Machado]

[Gileno Machado]