Iguanura melinauensis

Iguanura (ig-oo-ah-NOOR-ah) melinauensis (meh-lee-now-EN-sis)
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Scientific Classification
Genus: Iguanura (ig-oo-ah-NOOR-ah) Species: melinauensis (meh-lee-now-EN-sis)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Borneo. Sarawak: Melinau district, 4th Division. (Kiew R. 1976)/Palmweb.

Sarawak rainforest. Photo by Rudy Meyer.

This small clumping palm is found only in the damp shady forests surrounding the Melinau River in northern Sarawak.

Description

A small understory palm, with paddle shaped leaves, either undivided or split into a few, broad segments.

Stem 1/2-1 1/2 m tall. Bark smooth. Annuli 2-2 1/2 cm apart. Crownshaft 22-30 cm long. Leaf sheath 9-14 cm long. Petiole short, 7-12 cm long. Lamina 30-65 cm long and 12-16 cm wide, divided into 2-5 pairs of segments. Segments parallel-sided but with apical distal corner elongate. Terminal segment pair wide, often 1/3-1/2 as long as whole laminal region. Veins 1/2-3/4 cm apart. Inflorescence among or below the leaves. Outer spathe 20 cm long, inner 25-30 cm long. Peduncle 42-53 cm long. Rachillae 4-7, straight, 10-20 cm long and 1-2 mm thick, diverging at 45 degress. Flowers 11 cm apart. Anthers lobed. Fruit olive-shaped with central ridge and two lateral ridges on either side. Endosperm homogeneous and with ridges corresponding to the endocarp. (Kiew R. 1976)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

All collections are from a single locality - Melinau and in the Melinau Gorge it is recorded living on limestone debris as well as on alluvial soil. The complete collections indicate that the Melinau population is probably extensive enough to allow selection of plants in both flower and fruit. This species is recognised by its narrow leaves with a large pair of terminal segments, by its long peduncle and its fine and diverging rachillae, its ridged fruit and ridged endosperm. The species epithet refers to its locality, Melinau. (Kiew R. 1976)/Palmweb.

Culture

Cultivation recommendations: A tropical lowland plant requiring high humidity, protection from wind, and a minimum temperature of 20 C for good growth. Prefers rich and well-drained soil. Cold Hardiness Zone: 11

Comments and Curiosities

This small clumping palm is found only in the damp shady forests surrounding the Melinau River in northern Sarawak. The leaves are divided into broad rectangular segments.