| Allagoptera | |
|---|---|
| |
| Allagoptera arenaria | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Tribe: | Cocoseae |
| Genus: | Allagoptera Nees[1] |
| Type species | |
| Allagoptera arenaria | |
| Species | |
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Allagoptera is a monoecious genus of flowering plant in the palm family found in South America consisting of 5 accepted species. Compared to other genera within the Cocoseae Allagoptera is described as particularly specialized.[3] The genus name is a Greek combination of "change" and "feather", describing the full leaf; it was formerly named Diplothemium.
Allagoptera produces very short or acaulescent trunks and in cases where the trunk grows erect it often makes a downward turn leaving the crown below the trunk-base. The trunks in Allagoptera are among the few in the palm family which tend to bifurcate, producing multiple heads per unit. The pinnate leaves are gently arching to 2 m and are carried on long, slender petioles which are adaxially channeled. The single-fold leaflets are regularly or irregularly arranged on the rachis each protruding into a different plane, creating a plumose leaf. The unusual spicate inflorescence emerges from within the leaf-crown carrying the pistilate flowers basally with the staminate flowers growing distally. The single-seeded fruit is yellow to brown, growing in crowded clusters.[4]
| Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
 |
Allagoptera arenaria | Atlantic Coast of Brazil |
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Allagoptera brevicalyx | Bahia, Brazil |
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Allagoptera campestris | Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay. |
 |
Allagoptera caudescens | Brazil |
 |
Allagoptera leucocalyx | Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina |
Palms in this genus are found in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina growing in a variety of habitats. Some thrive in sandy beaches and dunes, while others are found in woodlands; Allagoptera species are also common along sandstone hills and in the Cerrado vegetation.
