''Gaussia attenuata'' (palma de sierra, llume) is a

palm Palm most commonly refers to: * Palm of the hand, the central region of the front of the hand * Palm plants, of family Arecaceae **List of Arecaceae genera * Several other plants known as "palm" Palm or Palms may also refer to: Music * Palm (ba ...

which is native to

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...

. The species grows on steep-sided

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

hills (known as

mogote A mogote () is a generally-isolated steep-sided residual hill in the tropics composed of either limestone, marble, or dolomite. Mogotes are surrounded by nearly flat alluvial plains. The hills typically have a rounded, tower-like form. Overvi ...

s) in Puerto Rico.

Description

''Gaussia attenuata'' trees are up to 15 metres tall with grey stems which are swollen at the base and tapering above. Stems are 15 to 25 centimetres in diameter. Trees have five to seven

pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, and in ...

ly compound leaves. Fruit are orange-red, 1.4 to 1.6 cm long and 1.2 cm in diameter, with one to three seeds.

References

attenuata Trees of Puerto Rico Vulnerable plants Taxa named by Odoardo Beccari {{tree-stub