Pinanga perakensis

Pinanga (pih-NAHN-gah) perakensis (peh-rah-KEN-sis)
Thailand. Photo by Chalermchart Soorangura
Scientific Classification
Genus: Pinanga (pih-NAHN-gah) Species: perakensis (peh-rah-KEN-sis)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Morphology
Habit: Clustering Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Che luang (เจหลวง) (Peninsular Thailand)

Habitat and Distribution

Malaya, Thailand. Distribution: S. Pen. Thailand to Pen. Malaysia. Lowland or montaine

Fraser's Hill FR, Pahang, Malaysia. Photo by Ahmad Fuad Morad

rain forest, ridges in lower montane forest, 900-1300 m. elevation; widespread distribution in Peninsular Malaysia.

Description

Stems clustered, to 2.5 m tall, 1.5–4 cm in diameter, reddish. Leaves pinnate; sheaths 20–45 cm long, yellow or orange with reddish-brown or purple hairs; petioles 25–60 cm long; rachis 1.8–2 m long; pinnae 15–23 per side of rachis, light grey abaxially, linear, regularly arranged, closely spaced, the middle ones 45–75 cm long, 1.5–4 cm wide. Inflorescences pendulous; peduncles 1–1.4 cm long, 0.3–0.4 cm wide; rachis about 0.5 cm long; rachillae 3–7, 5–8 cm long, straight, rectangular in cross-section, glabrous; triads arranged distichously, superficial on the rachillae. Male flowers about 3.5 mm long, not pedicellate; sepals about 3.5 mm long, triangular, joined at the base; petals about 3 mm long, triangular; stamens 6; female flowers about 3 mm long; sepals about 2 mm long, rounded at the apices, ciliate; petals about 2 mm long, ciliate. Fruits oblong to ellipsoid, to 2 cm long and 1 cm in diameter, ripening pink to black. Editing by edric.

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a

Comments and Curiosities

Rarely offered for sale, this densely clustering Pinanga from Thailand and Malaysia, grows to about 3 metres and has most striking orange stems and leafsheaths. Will grow best in humid tropical climates and is tolerant of drier conditions than other Pinanga species. (RPS.com)