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Butia microspadix is a very small species of grass-like Butia palm usually with an underground trunk; native to the states of Paraná and São Paulo in Brazil.
It has been given the common name dwarf woolly jelly palm in English. It is locally known as butiazinho-do-campo or just butiazinho in Portuguese. The species epithet is derived from ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós), meaning 'small', and σπάδῑξ (spā́dīx), originally meaning 'palm frond' but referring to the inflorescence.
The species is mostly restricted to eastern highlands of the state of Paraná, with small populations in the south of São Paulo state. As of 2017, it has been recorded from only ten localities. Within Paraná it occurs in the municipalities of Antônio Olinto, Carambeí, Jaguariaíva, Palmeira, Ponta Grossa, Sengés and Tibagi. Within São Paulo it occurs in the municipalities of Paranapanema and Itararé. Within the extent of occurrence, an area of approximately 6000 km2, it is calculated to occupy some 1300 km2 (the area of occupancy), giving it an abundance of 21%, which is reasonably low compared to other species of Butia.
It is collected by palm enthusiasts as an ornamental plant and seed has sometimes been available from specialist retailers since at least 2015, if not earlier. It is said to be very ornamental. It is difficult to germinate, the seeds having low viability and taking more than 6 months to germinate. It is very slow-growing. USDA hardiness zone 9b. It is advised to plant the palms in full sunlight. It is said to take −5 °C, but should be protected at 0 °C in the Netherlands.
Butia archeri · Butia arenicola · Butia campicola · South American jelly palm · Butia catarinensis · Woolly butia palm · Butia lallemantii · Butia matogrossensis · South American Jelly Palm · Dwarf Yatay Palm · Butia pubispatha · Butia purpurascens
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Butia microspadix by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
