Butia microspadix. An endangered little palm that I preserve.

[Alberto]

My region of the "Campos Gerais" in the state Paraná in southern Brazil is caracterized by a kind of prairie vegetation , the " campos-limpos" or " campos" . The rivers are surrounded by riparian araucaria forest. The "campos limpos" is a kind of vegetation rich in a variety of grasses, all kind of flowering plants like ground orchids etc and two palms. In my municipality this are the more common Allagoptera campestris and the not so common Butia microspadix ( butiazinho-do-campo) Because most of the "campo"  was removed making place for agriculture and pasture, this palms is very rare now.  Years ago I saved several Butia microspadix plants that were growing on the remaining campo vegetation on a berm of a dirt road that was being widened. Sadly I didn't transplant all the remaining plants, because years later they were all destroyed. This cultivated palms produced seeds and two times I sowed them in a little peace of "campo" that I preserve at my place and that lacks this species. Normally the wild B. microspadix remains very small and blend with the grasses. In cultivation, free of competition and with some NPK each year, they grow to a size that is difficult to believe they are the same palms... Yesterday I found some little "butiazinhos" growing in my preserved campo. I cleaned some grasses around to give them a better chance. 

[Alberto]

Allagoptera campestris is a more common palm on the campos

[Alberto]

My too big "grown up" cultivated "butiazinho-do-campo" 😀 

[Eric33]

On 5/20/2023 at 5:50 PM, Alberto said:

My too big "grown up" cultivated "butiazinho-do-campo" 😀 

Do you have or will have seeds available ?

 

 

[Alberto]

1 hour ago, Eric33 said:

 

 Yes, in the near future I will.

[LP305]

That is a wonderful thing that you are doing, and worthy of praise. 

[Alberto]

50 minutes ago, LP305 said:

That is a wonderful thing that you are doing, and worthy of praise. 

Thanks!

[Tyrone]

Keep up the good work Alberto. We need more people doing what you are doing.

[Brad Mondel]

Thank you for preserving such a beautiful and unique palm.