remains the easiest way to proceed. These taxa differ markedly in staminate flower structure, although they are often undistinguishable vegetatively. Palms referred to as Orbignya are characterized by stamens with coiled anthers, and staminate flowers often densely packed on rachillae (Fig. 8). All the other staminate flower types have straight anthers. Maximiliana has staminate flowers with petals much shorter than the stamens. There is a single species of this type, A. maripa, which is widespread in the Amazon region. Attalea sensu stricto and Scheelea have staminate flowers with petals longer than stamens. Attalea s.s. has flattened petals which enclose the stamens (Fig. 7)