News about palms
New discoveries still being made after 250 years
New species discovered or described by botanists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in its 250th year include 24 species of palms. Twenty of these come from the island of Madagascar, even though less than 10% of the island's original vegetation remains. Read more at the Kew website: Kew botanists discover over 250 new plant species in Kew's 250th year (December 2009)
Bismarkia is a Florida favourite
Celebrating a decade of the "Florida Plants of the Year" program in 2009, the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association (USA) have selected ten Plants of the Decade from previous winners. The range includes Zamioculcas zamiifolia (ZZ plant) and the the silver form of Bismarckia nobilis (Bismarck Palm). More information at the FNGLA website
Palms trump power lines in Port Douglas
Cairns Regional Council have approved funds to replace the remaining overhead powerlines on Port Douglas Road with underground cables, saving the avenue of 27 African Oil Palms that were threatening power supply. Source: Iconic Palms preserved (May 2009)
A date with history
A Judean date palm has been grown from a seed found in the ruins of Masada, the Jewish fortress that fell to the Romans abround 2000 years ago. Believed to be the oldest seed ever to germinate, the resulting plant has been nicknamed Methuselah. Furthermore, it represents a previously extinct form of date palm, the fruit of which could have properties not present in modern dates. More from the American Association for the Advancement of Science: Researchers Resurrect Extinct Judean Date Palm Tree from 2,000-Year-Old Seed (June, 2008)
New palm discovery on Madagascar
The discovery of a new palm species on Madagascar is making botanical news. The rare and spectacular flowering event which betrayed its exisistence ultimately kills the tree. Read more from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK): New Genus of Self-destructive Palm found in Madagascar and the Human Flower Project: Diversity: Madagascar v. NYC. January 2008
New palm genus discovered
An expedition to the Wondiwoi Mountains of Indonesian New Guinea has revealed to science a new palm genus, Dransfieldia. More information from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew here:
New Palm Genus Discovered in Remote Forests of New Guinea (March 2006)
Palms provide evolutionary model
The widely cultivated Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) and another palm from Lord Howe island, the closely related H. belmoreana, have provided an interesting model for biologists investigating how two species could diverge from a common ancestor without geographic separation. Different flowering times appears to be involved in the process. More information from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew here: New Case Study Contributes to Thinking on Origin of Species (February 2006)
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Some common landscaping palms
Below are some species commonly encountered in SE Qld landscapes with links to futher resources, to help new gardeners in the region.
Golden Cane Palm
Dypsis lutescens = Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Dypsis lutescens Harold L. Lyon Arboretum Plant Profiles, University of Hawai`i at Manoa (PDF)
Alexandra Palm
Archontophoenix alexandrae
Other names: Alex palms, Alexander palm
Tropical Topics Newsletter, Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Government (includes Alexandra palm, Archontophoenix alexandrae)
Bangalow Palm
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
Piccabeen Palm ( Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) Flora of Lamington National Park, Qld
Foxtail Palm
Wodyetia bifurcata
Meet the Plants Pacific flora database of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, USA. Select Wodyetia bifurcata from the "Choose A Plant" menu
Wodyetia bifurcata (Foxtail Palm) Harold L. Lyon Arboretum Plant Profiles
Department of Botany. University of Hawai`i at Manoa (PDF)
Pygmy Date Palm
Phoenix roebelinii
Canary Island Date Palm
Phoenix canariensis
Cuban Royal Palm
Roystonea regia
Other names: Royal palm
Triangle Palm
Dypsis decaryi
Triangle Palm Dypsis decaryi Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Bismark Palm
Bismarckia nobilis
Not exactly common yet, but when you see one you'll want to know "what's that palm?".
Fairchild Guide to Palms: Bismarckia and Bismarckia images Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Florida
Bismarckia nobilis Bismarck Palm. Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Bismarckia nobilis Harold L. Lyon Arboretum Plant Profiles, University of Hawai`i at Manoa (PDF)
Cocos Palm
Syagrus romanzoffianum
Do not plant! This species is now thoroughly out of favour due to its messy and weedy character. The following links have been included for recognition purposes. You'll still see plenty around the region, especially in older gardens (or popping up as weeds in your yard).
Queen palm ( Arecastrum romanzoffianum) Dendrology at Virginia Tech
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More Links
The following links are for general information - some species or cultivars referred to in these websites may be might not be unavailable in Australia
Montgomery Botanical Center, Florida. Specializing in scientific collections of palms and cycads. Enthusiasts should check the newsletter archive
Planting and culture
Boron Deficiency in Palms University of Florida (PDF)
Go to Palms with edible fruits, nuts ot other edible parts
Coconuts, Dates and other edible palm species
Archontophoenix
Chamaedorea
Cyrtostachys
Hyophorbe
Howea
Kentia Palm, Sentry Palm Howea forsteriana. Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Latania
Licuala
Licuala ramsayi Australian or Mission Beach fan palm. James Cook University, Qld
Livistona
Ribbon Fan Palm ( Livistona decipiens) At "Grow Me Instead" (an Australian website informing gardeners about safer alternatives to invasive ornamentals)
Livistona decora (= L. decipiens) Weeping cabbage palm. James Cook University, Qld
Livistona rigida Mataranka or Gregory River fan palm. James Cook University, Qld
Normanbya
Redleaf Palm, New Caledonian Bloodleaf Palm
Rhapis
Lady Palm Rhapis excelsa Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Dypsis
Washingtonia
Others
Carpentaria Palm ( Carpentaria acuminata) At "Grow Me Instead" (an Australian website informing gardeners about safer alternatives to invasive ornamentals)
Trachycarpus fortunei UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, University of British Columbia, Canada
Sabal palmetto Silvics of North America, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service
Sabal etonia, Scrub Palmetto, University of Florida USA (PDF)
Sabal minor, Dwarf Palmetto, Bluestem Palmetto, University of Florida USA (PDF)
Caryota urens Ecocrop database, Food and Agriculture Organization
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