THE GEONOMA TRIANDRA SPECIES GROUP

The Geonoma triandra species group corresponds to Group 1 of Wessels Boer (1968).

The group is characterized by its branched inflorescences; elongate peduncles; well developed prophylls; peduncular bracts much reduced and not encircling the peduncle; filiform rachillae; flower pits arranged decussately; proximal and distal lips continuous around the pit, lips not splitting; inner part of the pits glabrous; staminate flowers with three stamens; filaments with very short connectives and two, free thecae; and pistillate flowers with the staminodial tube truncate or shallowly lobed at the apex.

The group occurs in eastern Panama and northwestern Colombia.

One name has applied to the group and one species (Burret, 1930; Wessels Boer, 1968) has been recognized (although this was first described in its own genus, Kalbreyera).

Eight herbarium specimens from BH, BM, and NY (herbarium abbreviations from Holmgren et al., 1990) were examined.

RESULTS

Three binary variables were found. Twenty-five quantitative variables were found (variables). Four are from stems, 10 from leaves, and 11 from reproductive structures. Twenty-two are continuous and three are discrete. Percentage missing values for each character are also given. Only one species is recognized in this group (G. triandra), based on the stamen number of three. All other species of Geonoma have six (or more) stamens.