SFPS General Meeting, Feb 3, 2025 Seed Collection Expedition to Acre, Brazil By Lenny Goldstein.
On February 3, 43 hardy souls were transported to Acre, the remotest of Brazil’s 26 states, on an expedition to collect palm seeds. In truth, they made the trip in the comfort of the Garden House at Fairchild Garden during the first SFPS meeting of 2025. The adventure was led by Dr. Joanna Tucker Lima, Living Collections Manager at Montgomery Botanical Center.
As distant as Acre is from Brazil’s enormous eastern cities, it isn’t unpopulated. The state’s capital, Rio Branco, has some 370,000 residents. Small communities dot its abundant waterways, and therein lies a problem: deforestation to create farms. The going wasn’t easy for the collection team; even the federal highway contained potholes seemingly large enough to swallow young capybaras. Dirt roads turned slick during periodic heavy rains. At one point, the collectors’ vehicle, which wasn’t in top condition, slid down a sloppy road until it came to rest against an embankment.
In spite of all the obstacles, the state is still rich in palm species, and Dr. Lima, along with MBC’s Dr. Larry Noblick and assistants from the Federal University of Acre, collected, cleaned, and packed 600 seeds representing 17 species. The palms that were in fruit ranged from huge Attaleas, many of which thrive in what are now pastures, to Iriartellas, Socrateas, and Mauritias, still ensconced in remnant forest pockets. The seed shipment arrived in Miami after a considerable holdup in Brazil, and seedlings are now popping up in the MBC greenhouse under the watchful eye of Nursery Curator Vickie Murphy.
But what about the species that weren’t in fruit? Not to worry! Dr. Lima will be returning to Acre for additional expeditions, and we anticipate seeing her again with updates on other seed acquisitions.
David Lord conducted his first meeting as SFPS president, and before the program he treated us to a delicious array of food dishes prepared by his wife, Marcia, a native of Brazil. After Dr. Lima’s program, David presided over a spirited auction of some great palms. We are, as always, grateful for the contributions. Here is the list of species and donors (as well as source, if wild-collected):
Carpoxylon macrospermum, 3-gal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Lord
Coccothrinax boschiana, 7-gal., Dominican Republic . . . . . . MBC
Coccothrinax fragrans, 3-gal., Dominican Republic . . . . . . . MBC
Coccothrinax sp., 3-gal., Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . MBC
Heterospathe elata, 1-gal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MBC
Rhapis excelsa, variegated, dug stems . . . . . . . . Paulette Johnson
Sabal lougheediana, 7-gal., Netherland Antilles . . . . . . . . . . MBC
Sabal miamiensis, 3-gal., Miami-Dade County . . . . . . . . . . . . MBC
Anthurium ‘Arrow’, 1-gal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Dickinson
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