49e. Geonoma pinnatifrons subsp. mexicana (Liebman ex Martius) Henderson, comb. & stat. nov.

Basionym: Geonoma mexicana Liebman ex Martius (1853: 316). Type: MEXICO. Oaxaca: Lobani, Chinantla, 900 m, no date, F. Liebman 10804 (holotype C!, isotypes MO!, P!, US!).

Leaf pinnae 4(3–7) per side of rachis. Inflorescences peduncular bracts inserted 3.8(1.8–7.4) cm above the prophyll; peduncles 28.4(19.0–37.0) cm long, 7.0(3.8–10.7) mm in diameter; rachillae 12.3(7.0–18.0) cm long, 2.3(1.6–3.3) mm in diameter; fruits 4.1(3.7–4.5) mm in diameter.

Distribution and habitat:— From 7°43’– 18°01’N and 79°55’– 96°40’W in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and western Panama (Bocas del Toro, Coclé, Herrera) at 553(50–1100) m elevation in lowland or montane rainforest (Fig. 32).

Four specimens (Cook 35, 728, Doyle 10, Hernández 1171) from scattered localities in Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica have many more pinnae than usual and the leaf appears regularly pinnate. One possible explanation for this is that these specimens represent a mixture of inflorescences from G. pinnatifrons subsp. mexicana and leaves from G. interrupta subsp. magnifica . The latter has many more pinnae and occurs sympatrically with G. pinnatifrons subsp. mexicana . Leaf measurements from these four specimens are omitted.