Diversity of ornamental palm trees in the urban area of Tarapoto, Peru

Urbina-Arévalo F.A.; Pinedo Flores K.C.; Navarro Salas L.K.; Trigozo-Macedo V.; Tapia-Guevara J.; Torres J.M.; Chávez-Mori H.A.; Cachique Huansi D.; Salazar-Vega Á.A.; Rodríguez-Soto J.C.; Mejía Carhuanca K.; Rojas-Fox J.; Rodríguez-Cabrera E.H.; Rodríguez del-Castillo A.M. · Revista del Jardin Botanico Nacional (2025)

Resumen

Ornamental palms are highly valued because they can be used to beautify and enhance the aesthetic appeal of landscapes in urban areas. In this sense, the purpose of this study was to identify the diversity of ornamental palms cultivated in the urban area of the city of Tarapoto, Peru. To this end, a list of species was made from field observations and photographic records of palm trees, which were identified and classified taxonomically A total of 24 cultivated palm species were documented, distributed across 4 subfamilies and 11 tribes: 15 species belonged to the Arecoideae subfamily, seven to Coryphoideae, and one each to Ceroxyloideae and Calamoideae. It was determined that 16 species of palm trees are exotic, originating from Asia, Africa, Oceania and other regions of America such as the Caribbean area, the Andes and North America, while 8 species were recognized as native of Perú. Palms were notably abundant in public spaces (e.g., gardens, plazas, and parks), enriching the city’s landscape diversity. The results of this study demonstrate the predominance of exotic species in the urban environment of Tarapoto and offer knowledge about the diversity and distribution of palm trees that can be useful for the ornamentation of the city of Tarapoto and other cities in the Peruvian Amazon.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Nacional de Trujillo; Universidad César Vallejo