Carvalho, R.M.; Martins, F.R. & Santos, F.A.M. 1994. Leaf longevity in the palm tree Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecoidae). In: Tallis, J.H.; Norman, H.J. & Benton, R.A. (eds). Proceedings of the VI International Congress of Ecology (INTECOL), Manchester, United Kingdom, p. 268.

Abstract: The leaf production of 112 young plants of Euterpe edulis Mart. was followed from December 1990 to present in a swampy area inside an urban forest fragment at the municipality of Campinas, southeastern Brazil. Each plant produces leaves one by one, each leaf begining its expansion only after the complete expansion of the preceding one. Juvenile stage showed the greatest leaf area, followed by infant and seedling. Juvenile was also the first stage to produce a new leaf, followed by infant and seedling, thus corroborating the hypothesis that the greater the photosynthetic surface the greater the investment in new leaves. A leaf grows steadly while closed, only the petiole grows after its opening. Petiole growth was verified for all stages studied. Infant stage suffered the greatest damage by herbivores, while seedling had the biggest mortality rate due to herbivores and disappearing. Leaf longevity can attain two or more years, thus suggesting that a leaf is expensive to produce and its maintenance is important for plant survival. This study may contribute for modelling system of palm cabbage plantation and management both in natural and artificial conditions.