Arecaceae

This list of genera was made in October 2025 according to World Flora Online, Plants of the World Online, PALMWeb, Alapetite et al. 2014, Bacon et al. 2012 and 2013, Baker (2015), Baker et al. 2011, Baker & Dransfield 2016, Barrett et al. 2015 and 2019, Eiserhardt et al. 2022, Hodel et al. 2021, Kadam et al. 2022 and 2023, Meerow et al. 2014, Norup et al. 2006, Perez-Calle et al. 2024, Wrisberg et al. 2025, Yao et al. 2023, and Zona & Baker (2014). This list includes only genera present in our herbaria: M and MSB.

All genera (accepted genera in bold)Stored underSynonyms included
Acanthophoenix H.Wendl.
Acoelorraphe H.Wendl.
Acrocomia Mart.
Actinorhytis H.Wendl. & Drude
Aiphanes Willd. (prev. under Martinezia Ruiz & Pav.)
Allagoptera Nees (prev. under Diplothemium Mart., Polyandrococos Barb.Rodr.)Diplothemium Mart., Polyandrococos Barb.Rodr.
Ancistrophyllum (G.Mann & H.Wendl.) H.Wendl.Laccosperma (G.Mann & H.Wendl.) Drude
Archontophoenix H.Wendl. & Drude
Areca L.
Arecastrum (Drude) Becc.Syagrus Mart.
Arenga Labill. ex DC.Didymosperma H.Wendl. & Drude ex Hook.f.
Arikuryroba Barb.Rodr.Syagrus Mart.
Asterogyne H.Wendl. ex Hook.f.
Astrocaryum G.Mey.
Attalea KunthMaximiliana Mart., Orbignya Mart. ex Endl., Scheelea H.Karst.
Bactris Jacq. ex Scop.
Bentinckia Berry ex Roxb.
Borassus L.
Brahea Mart.
Butia (Becc.) Becc.
Calamus L.Ceratolobus Blume ex Schult. & Schult.f.
Calyptrogyne H.Wendl.
Calyptronoma Griseb.
Caryota L.
Catoblastus H.Wendl.Wettinia Poepp. ex Endl.
Ceratolobus Blume ex Schult. & Schult.f.Calamus L.
Ceroxylon Bonpl. ex DC.
Chamaedorea Willd.Collinia (Liebm.) Oerst., Dasystachys Oerst., Eleutheropetalum (H.Wendl.) H.Wendl. ex Oerst., Morenia Ruiz & Pav.
Chamaerops L.
Chrysalidocarpus H.Wendl.Neodypsis Baill.
Clinostigma H.Wendl.
Coccothrinax Sarg.Thringis O.F.Cook
Cocos L.
Coelococcus H.Wendl.Metroxylon Rottb.
Collinia (Liebm.) Oerst.Chamaedorea Willd.
Colpothrinax Schaedtler
Copernicia Mart. ex Endl.
Corypha L.
Cryosophila Blume (prev. under Chamaerops L.)
Cyrtostachys Blume
Dasystachys Oerst.Chamaedorea Willd.
Deckenia H.Wendl. ex Seem.
Desmoncus Mart.
Dictyosperma H.Wendl. & Drude
Didymosperma H.Wendl. & Drude ex Hook.f.Arenga Labill. ex DC.
Diplothemium Mart.Allagoptera Nees
Drymophloeus Zipp.
Dypsis Noronha ex Mart.Phloga Noronha ex Hook.f.
Elaeis Jacq.
Eleutheropetalum (H.Wendl.) H.Wendl. ex Oerst.Chamaedorea Willd.
Eremospatha (G.Mann & H.Wendl.) Schaedtler
Euterpe Mart.
Gaussia H.Wendl.
Geonoma Willd.
Heterospathe Scheff. (prev. under Ptychoraphis Becc.)
Hydriastele H.Wendl. & DrudeKentia Blume
Hyophorbe Gaertn.
Hyospathe Mart.
Hyphaene Gaertn.
Iguanura Blume
Inodes O.F.CookSabal Adans.
Iriartea Ruiz & Pav.
Iriartella H.Wendl. (prev. under Iriartea Ruiz & Pav.)
Jessenia H.Karst.Oenocarpus Mart.
Juania Drude
Jubaea Kunth
Kentia BlumeHydriastele H.Wendl. & Drude
Korthalsia Blume
Laccosperma (G.Mann & H.Wendl.) Drude (prev. under Ancistrophyllum (G.Mann & H.Wendl.) H.Wendl.)Ancistrophyllum (G.Mann & H.Wendl.) H.Wendl.
Lanonia A.J.Hend. & C.D.Bacon (prev. under Licuala Wurmb)
Latania Comm. ex Juss.
Leopoldinia Mart.
Lepidocaryum Mart.
Leucothrinax C.Lewis & Zona (prev. under Thrinax L.f. ex Sw.)
Licuala Wurmb
Linospadix H.Wendl.
Livistona R.Br.
Manicaria Gaertn.
Martinezia Ruiz & Pav.Prestoea Hook.f. Hook.f.
Mauritia L.f.
Mauritiella Burret (prev. under Mauritia L.f.)
Maximiliana Mart.Attalea Kunth
Metroxylon Rottb.Coelococcus H.Wendl.
Microcoelum Burret & PotztalSyagrus Mart.
Morenia Ruiz & Pav.Chamaedorea Willd.
Myrialepis Becc. (prev. under Plectocomiopsis Becc.)
Nannorrhops H.Wendl.
Nenga H.Wendl. & Drude
Neodypsis Baill.Chrysalidocarpus H.Wendl.
Neoveitchia Becc.
Nypa Steck
Oenocarpus Mart.Jessenia H.Karst.
Oncosperma Blume
Orania Zipp.Dypsis Noronha ex Mart.
Orbignya Mart. ex Endl.Attalea Kunth
Oreodoxa Willd.Prestoea Hook.f.
Palandra O.F.CookPhytelephas Ruiz & Pav.
Phloga Noronha ex Hook.f.
Phoenix L.
Pholidocarpus Blume
Pholidostachys H.Wendl. ex Benth. & Hook.f. (prev. under Calyptrogyne H.Wendl.)
Phytelephas Ruiz & Pav.Palandra O.F.Cook
Pinanga Blume
Plectocomia Mart. ex Blume
Plectocomiopsis Becc.
Podococcus G.Mann & H.Wendl.
Polyandrococos Barb.Rodr.Allagoptera Nees
Prestoea Hook.f.Martinezia Ruiz & Pav., Oreodoxa Willd.
Pritchardia Seem. & H.Wendl.
Pseudophoenix H.Wendl. ex Sarg.
Ptychoraphis Becc.Rhopaloblaste Scheff.
Ptychosperma Labill.
Raphia P.Beauv.
Ravenea H.Wendl. ex C.D.Bouché
Reinhardtia Liebm.
Rhapidophyllum H.Wendl. & Drude
Rhapis L.f. ex Aiton
Rhopaloblaste Scheff.Ptychoraphis Becc.
Rhopalostylis H.Wendl. & Drude (prev. under Kentia Blume)
Roystonea O.F.Cook (prev. under Oreodoxa Willd.)
Sabal Adans.Inodes O.F.Cook
Salacca Reinw.
Saribus Blume (prev. under Livistona R.Br.)
Scheelea H.Karst.Attalea Kunth
Serenoa Hook.f.
Socratea H.Karst. (prev. under Iriartea Ruiz & Pav.)
Syagrus Mart.Arecastrum (Drude) Becc., Arikuryroba Barb.Rodr., Microcoelum Burret & Potztal
Synechanthus H.Wendl.
Thrinax L.f. ex Sw.
Thringis O.F.CookCoccothrinax Sarg.
Trachycarpus H.Wendl.
Trithrinax Mart.
Veitchia H.Wendl.
Wallichia Roxb.
Washingtonia H.Wendl.
Wettinia Poepp. ex Endl.Catoblastus H.Wendl.

References

  • Alapetite, E., Baker, W.J., Nadot, S. (2014). Evolution of stamen number in Ptychospermatinae (Arecaceae): Insights from a new molecular phylogeny of the subtribe. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 76, 227-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2014.02.026
  • Bacon, C.D., McKenna, M.J., Simmons, M.P., Wagner, W.L. (2012). Evaluating multiple criteria for species delimitation: an empirical example using Hawaiian palms (Arecaceae: Pritchardia). BMC Evolutionary Biology, 12, 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-12-23
  • Bacon, C.D., Mora, A., Wagner, W.L., Jaramillo, C.A. (2013). Testing geological models of evolution of the Isthmus of Panama in a phylogenetic framework. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 171, 1, 287–300. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2012.01281.x
  • Baker, W.J. (2015). A revised delimitation of the rattan genus Calamus (Areceaceae). Phytotaxa, 192, 2. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.197.2.7  
  • Baker, W.J., Dransfield, J. (2016). Beyond Genera Palmarum: progress and prospects in palm systematics, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 182, 2, 207–233. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12401
  • Baker, W.J., Norup, M.V.,Clarkson, J.J., Couvreur, T.L.P,  Dowe, J.L., Lewis, C.E., Pintaud, J-C., Savolainen, V., Wilmot, T., Chase, M.W. (2011). Phylogenetic relationships among arecoid palms (Arecaceae: Arecoideae). Annals of Botany, 108, 8, 1417–1432. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcr020
  • Barrett, C.F., Baker, W.J., Comer, J.R., Conran, J.G., Lahmeyer, S.C., Leebens-Mack, J.H., Li, J., Lim, G.S., Mayfield-Jones, D.R., Perez, L., Medina, J., Pires, J.C., Santos, C., Wm. Stevenson, D., Zomlefer, W.B. and Davis, J.I. (2016). Plastid genomes reveal support for deep phylogenetic relationships and extensive rate variation among palms and other commelinid monocots. New Phytologist, 209, 855-870. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13617
  • Barrett, C.F., Sinn, B.T., King, L.T., Medina, J.C., Bacon, C.D., Lahmeyer, S.C, Hodel, D.R. (2019). Phylogenomics, biogeography and evolution in the American genus Brahea (Arecaceae), Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 190, 3, 242–259. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boz015
  • Eiserhardt, W., Bellot, S., Cowan, R.S., Dransfield, J., Hansen, L.E.S.F., Heyduk, K., Rabarijaona, R.N., Rakotoarinivo, M., Baker, W.J. (2022). Phylogenomics and generic limits of Dypsidinae (Arecaceae), the largest palm radiation in Madagascar. Taxon, 71, 1170-1195. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12797
  • Hodel, D.R., Baker, W.J., Bellot, S., Pérez-Calle, V., Cumberledge, A., Barret, C.F. (2021). Reassessment of the Archotophoenicinae  of New Caledonia and description of a new species. Palms, 65, 3, 109-131.
  • Kadam, S.K., Mane, R.N., Tamboli, A.S., Gavade, S.K., Deshmukh, P.V., Lekhak, M.M., Choo, Y.-S., Pak, J. H. (2023). Cytogenetics, Typification, Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeography of Bentinckia (Arecoideae, Arecaceae), an Unplaced Indian Endemic Palm from Areceae. Biology, 12, 2, 233. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020233
  • Kadam, S.K., Tamboli, A.S., Mane, R.N. Yadav, S.R., Choo, Y-S., Burgos-Hernández, M., Hong Pak, J. (2022). Revised molecular phylogeny, global biogeography, and diversification of palms subfamily Coryphoideae (Arecaceae) based on low copy nuclear and plastid regions. Journal of Plant Research 136, 159–177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-022-01425-5
  • Meerow, A.W., Noblick, L., Salas-Leiva, D.E., Sanchez, V., Francisco-Ortega, J., Jestrow, B., Nakamura, K. (2015). Phylogeny and historical biogeography of the cocosoid palms (Arecaceae, Arecoideae, Cocoseae) inferred from sequences of six WRKY gene family loci. Cladistics, 31, 509-534. https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12100
  • Norup, M.V., Dransfield, J., Chase, M.W., Barfod, A.S., Fernando, E.S. and Baker, W.J. (2006). Homoplasious character combinations and generic delimitation: a case study from the Indo-Pacific arecoid palms (Arecaceae: Areceae). American Journal of Botany, 93, 1065-1080. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.93.7.1065
  • Pérez-Calle, V., Bellot, S., Kuhnhäuser,  B.G., Pillon, Y., Forest, F., Leitch, I.J., Baker, W.J. (2024). Phylogeny, biogeography and ecological diversification of New Caledonian palms (Arecaceae), Annals of Botany, 134, 1, 85–100, https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcae043
  • Wrisberg, O., Petoe, P., de Lima Ferreira, P., Bacon, C.D., Barfod, A.S., Bellot, S., Cano, Á., Couvreur, T.L.P., Dransfield, J., Henderson, A., Stauffer, F.W., Baker, W.J., Eiserhardt, W. (2025), A densely sampled nuclear phylogenomic analysis of the coryphoid palms (Arecaceae: Coryphoideae). Taxon, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.13384
  • Yao, G., Zhang, Y-Q., Barrett, C., Xue, B., Bellot, S., Baker, W.J., Ge, X-J. (2023). A plastid phylogenomic framework for the palm family (Arecaceae). BMC Biology, 21, 50. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-023-01544-y
  • Zona, S., Baker, W.J. (2014). Solfia transferred to Balaka. Palms, 58, 4.

Foto: Raphia P.Beauv. © Luo Chen