Chrysalidocarpus andrianatonga

Dypsis (DIP-sis) andrianatonga (and-ree-ah-nah-TOHN-gah)
Bekolosy, Manongarivo, Madagascar. Photo by Dr. Henk Beentje, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Dypsis (DIP-sis) Species: andrianatonga (and-ree-ah-nah-TOHN-gah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Africa
Morphology
Habit: Clustering Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Tsiriki andrianatonga (Tsimihety, tsiriki being a general palm name).

Habitat and Distribution

Dypsis andrianatonga is endemic to Madagascar. Manongarivo and Marojejy Massif.

Madagascar. Photo by Jeff Searle, Searle Brothers Nursery, FL.

Open moist montane forest or heath vegetation, occasionally on rocks in denser forest; alt. 700-1800 m.

Description

Clustering palm in tufts of 8 -14. STEMS 2-9 m tall, 1.5-2.5 cm in diam., snaking and procumbent but with the distal part erect, proximally and/or distally branching at the nodes, often rooting at the branching points; internodes proximally 11-18 cm, distally 1-2.5 cm, dark green, glabrous, nodal scars 0.3-0.7 cm, grey-brown, slightly stepped. LEAVES, about 5 in the crown, spiral to almost tristichous, arching-porrect, 80-190 cm; sheath 20-39 cm, closed but occasionally split proximally, without obvious auricles or with minute ones to 5 mm high, green, slightly waxy, proximally glabrous or with laciniate reddish scales, distally with some scattered scales; petiole 6-32 cm, proximally 5.5-10 x 3-5 mm in diam. and with a triangular fleshy extension of the sheath lining, channelled proximally, distally 3-6 x 3-5 mm in diam., densely pubescent or with scattered scales; rachis 42-128 cm, in mid-leaf to 7 mm wide, keeled, densely pubescent or with few scattered scales; leaflets regular, attenuate, 12-35 on each side of the rachis, the proximal 21-43 x 0.6-1.8 cm, median 16-35 x 2-3.2 cm (interval 3-5.3 cm), distal 3-20 x 0.3-1.9 cm, the distal pair joined for up to 0.5 cm, main veins 1-3, and with thickened margins, with occasional ramenta to 6 mm, with scattered scales on the veins and margins. INFLORESCENCE infrafoliar, branched to 1-2 orders, erect proximally, curved in the distal part of the peduncle through some 140°; peduncle 7-40 cm, proximally 4-12 x 3-3.5 mm in diam., distally 4-6 x 2.5-4 mm in diam., waxy; prophyll 12-59 cm, borne at 1.5-24 cm above the base of the peduncle, pale brown with scattered scales; peduncular bract persistent or deciduous, inserted at 4-28 cm from the base of the peduncle, 20-29 cm long, hooded, open all the way except the distal 4.5 cm, with a minute beak, with scattered scales; non-tubu-lar peduncular bract 0.2-2 x 1 cm; rachis 4-14 cm, with 9-17 first order branches, sometimes a few (up to 5) of these with a secondary rachis of up to 1.2 cm and 2-3 (-4) rachillae; rachillae 2-10 cm long, 2-3.5 mm diam., glabrous or minutely puberulous, zigzag; triads dense to distant, sunken, with acuminate rachilla bract to 2 mm. STAMINATE FLOWERS with sepals 2.2-x 2.3-2.6 mm, red-spotted on keel and apex; petals connate for 1.2-1.6 mm, free parts 3-3.4 x 2.4-3.2 mm; stamens 6, uniseriate, the filaments connate for c. 0.6 mm, free for 2.8-3 mm, flattened in their proximal half and cylindrical distally, anthers 1.4-1.7 x 0.5-0.8 mm, versatile, obtuse; pistillode 2.5-2.6 x 1.2-1.3 mm. PISTILLATE FLOWERS with sepals 2-3 x 2.8-3.6 mm; petals in young bud 2.5-3.3 x 2.4-mm, concave, striate, (in fruit) 3-4 x 3.3-5.2 mm, ciliolate; staminodes 6, flat, 0.3-0.8 mm high; ovary 1.5-3.7 x 0.9-2 mm. FRUIT green, colour unknown when ripe. (J. Dransfield and H. Beentje. 1995)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a

Comments and Curiosities

A rather small branching palm which is restricted to the high mountain massifs of northern Madagascar. All individuals we have seen displayed branching. The species seems closest to D. baronii. The epithet means 'the nobleman has arrived' and comes from the local name of the species. (J. Dransfield and H. Beentje. 1995)/Palmweb.

Conservation: Rare. The distribution of this species is limited. In Manongarivo it is not uncommon in a rather narrow vegetation belt on Bekolosi Mountain. (J. Dransfield and H. Beentje. 1995)/Palmweb.

Uses: Leaf decoction used in drink for convalescence, highly prized.

• IMAGE GALLERY
• 

  Madagascar. Photo by Jeff Searle, Searle Brothers Nursery, FL.

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  Madagascar. Photo by Jeff Searle, Searle Brothers Nursery, FL.

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  Bekolosy, Manongarivo, Madagascar. Photo by Dr. Henk Beentje, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.

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  Bekolosy, Manongarivo, Madagascar. Photo by Dr. Henk Beentje, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.

External Links

• Glossary of Palm Terms
• MODERN BOTANICAL LATIN
• "Just To Be Clear"

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).

Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995. Palms of Madagascar. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and The International Palm Society.

• SUB CATEGORY PALMS OF MADAGASCAR

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

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