Attalea (palm) - Reproduction and Growth

Reproduction and Growth

Attalea species are monoecious—male and female flowers are separate, but are borne by the same plant. Various species have been described as being insect pollinated, including A. phalerata, while pollination in A. colenda and A. speciosa, has been attributed both to insects and wind.

Seed germination is remote tubular—during germination, as the cotyledon expands it pushes the young shoot away from the seed. After germination, the stem initially grows downward before turning to grow upward and produce the aboveground stem. This produces a "saxophone shaped" belowground portion of the stem. The fact that the shoot tips of Attalea seedlings are underground it likely to contribute to their fire-tolerance.

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