Bentinckia condapanna

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Bentinckia (ben-tink-EE-ah) condapanna (kohn-DAH-pahn-nah)
B. condapanna3.jpg
Hawaii. Photo by Bö-Goran Lundkvist.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Bentinckia (ben-tink-EE-ah)
Species: condapanna (kohn-DAH-pahn-nah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
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Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Bentinck's Palm, Hill Areca nut. Malayan: Kanthal., Kanthakamugu, Kantal. Tamil: Varei kamugu, Kantha panai, Varukamuvu.

Habitat and Distribution

Bentinckia condapanna is endemic to the South Western Ghats- South Sahyadri,
South Western Ghats, India, photo by Divya Mudappa.
(Agasthyamalai, Elamalai, Palani Hills), Southern India, and is found only in the steep slopes of evergreen forests, Height: 15 m tall.Ecology: Locally common on rocky cliffs between 1000 and 1900 m.

Description

Trunk detail: Trunk smooth, 10 m. high, grey with annulate scaring. It has a sparse crown of arching fronds. Leaves : Leaves compound, pinnate, 1.5-2 m long; leaflets 60-75 x 2.5-5 cm, linear oblong, 2-3 united, tip usually bifid; lobes 5-10 cm. Inflorescence: Spadix from axil of fallen leaves just below crown. Spathe many, membranous, flowers small, sunken in branches of spadix; male flowers scarlet; female flowers lilac or violet, peduncles branched. Fruit: Fruit subglobose, rather compressed, 1-1.2 cm. in diameter, red, 1-seeded. Editing by edric.

Culture

Sunny, moist, but well drained position.

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Comments and Curiosities

An endangered species of palm.

Etymology: This palm was named in the honor of Lord William Gavendish Bentick (Governor of Madras, India 1803-1807).

This was once a common palm but has been reduced to rarity by land clearing, as well as being eaten by elaphants, which like the palm's cabbage.



External Links

References

Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.

Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.

Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).


Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.

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