Leopoldinia pulchra

Leopoldinia (leh-oh-poll-dihn-EE-ah) pulchra (POOL-krah)
Habitat - Amazonia - Photos: Don Kittleson.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Leopoldinia (leh-oh-poll-dihn-EE-ah) Species: pulchra (POOL-krah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary & clustering. Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil North, Colombia, and Venezuela. From 6°48'N-7°58'S and 54°04'-68°03'W in the

Habitat - Amazonia - Photos: Don Kittleson.

central Amazon region of Brazil (Amazonas, Pará), Colombia (Guainía, Vichada), and Venezuela (Amazonas, Apure) at (35+) 112 (-200) m elevation along the margins of black water rivers, the bases of the stems often underwater at highest water. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb.

Description

Plants (2.0+) 4.0 (-7.0) m tall; stems (2.0+) 3.8 (-7.0) m tall, (4.0+) 7.2 (-10.0) cm diameter, solitary or clustered. Leaves (5+) 13 (-25) per crown; sheaths (20.0+) 27.0 (-37.0) cm long, fibers from apices short, joined into a solid, woody tip; petioles (31.0+) 46.2 (-63.0) cm long; rachises (48.5+) 85.1 (-150.0) cm long, (4.9+) 7.8 (-12.6) mm diameter; pinnae (14+) 22 (-40) per side of rachis, spreading horizontally, the bases narrowed with abaxial, distal and proximal swellings adjacent to rachis, midveins prominent and raised in cross-section adaxially; basal pinna (23.5+) 35.6 (-67.0) cm long, (0.1+) 0.5 (-1.5) cm wide, forming an angle of (66+) 102 (-130)° with the rachis; apical pinna (9.6+) 17.3 (-28.5) cm long, (0.2+) 1.2 (-4.0) cm wide, forming an angle of (1+) 8 (-24)° with the rachis. Inflorescences monomorphic; prophylls (21.0+) 32.0 (-40.0) cm long; peduncular bracts (15.0+) 25.0 (-35.0) cm long, inserted (3.5+) 6.1 (-8.8) cm above the prophyll; peduncles (21.0+) 28.5 (-35.0) cm long, (7.6+) 13.9 (-18.5) mm diameter; staminate rachillae (0.9+) 1.7 (-2.7) cm long; pistillate rachillae (2.5+) 4.6 (-8.0) cm long; fruits (20.4+) 28.4 (-40.6) mm long, (18.1+) 26.4 (-36.2) mm diameter, flattened, globose to obovoid in side view, the surfaces with raised, reticulate ridges from mesocarp fibers, giving a wrinkled appearance. (Henderson, A.J. 2011)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b

Comments and Curiosities

'Chiqui-chiqui' is a delightful local name of this interesting and highly unusual palm, from Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. In years gone by the long fine fibres produced as the leaf sheaths disintegrate were an important item of commerce, exported as far afield as Europe for the manufacture of brooms and brushes. Leopoldinia is a handsome palm with a slim trunk and elegant feather shaped leaves; the hairy trunk is unmistakable. It requires tropical conditions with an abundance of water, but also makes a fascinating conservatory palm, rarely seen in cultivation. (RPS.com)