Howea forsteriana

From Palmpedia - Palm Grower's Guide
Jump to: navigation, search
Howea (how'-eh-ah)
forsteriana (for-ster'-ee-AHN-ah)
HfIMG 6939.jpg
Lord Howe Island - Troy & Darold Petty's excellent adventure. Photo by Troy Donovan.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Howea (how'-eh-ah)
Species:
forsteriana (for-ster'-ee-AHN-ah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Oceania
Oceania.gif
Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Kentia Palm, Parlor Palm

Habitat and Distribution

Found in the Norfolk Is. Grows naturally only on the Lord Howe Island group, in the Tasman sea
Lord Howe Island - Troy & Darold Petty's excellent adventure. Entrance to lodging. Photo by Troy Donovan.
about 500 mi (804 km) off the eastern coast of New South Wales, Australia. The climate on Lord Howe Island is subtropical, warm to cool. Kentia palms grow in extensive colonies at low to moderate altitudes, less than 2870 ft (875 m) above sea level. (Floridata.com)

Description

Howea forsteriana has a canopy of about three dozen gracefully drooping leaves which produce an airy and poised look. The leaves are pinnate (featherlike) and grow up to 12 ft (3.7 m) long with thornless 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) petioles (leaf stems). The leaflets are like fingers, 2.5 ft (0.8 m) long and 2 in (5 cm) wide; they bend downward in a graceful fashion. Kentia palm leaflets are dark green on top and lighter green on the bottom. The mature spread ranges from 10-20 ft (3-6 m) across, and the height may range from 15-30 ft (4.6-9 m), and can reach 60 ft (18.3 m). The trunk is swollen at the base and has slightly raised annular trunk rings. The kentia palm produces an inflorescence about 3.5 ft (1.1 m) long which consists of white flowers on 3-7 spikes which are fused at their bases. Male and female flowers are produced in the same inflorescence. Mature fruits are dull red and egg shaped, about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long. (Floridata.com) Editing by edric.

Culture

PFC for PP.png

Kentia palms tolerate and adapt to a wide variety of soils including those that are neutral, acidic, clayey and slightly alkaline, but they perform best in rich loamy soil with excellent drainage. Kentia palms are traditionally slow growers, however regular fertilization with palm-grade fertilizer promotes maximum growth. A balanced (e.g., 18-18-18) slow-release palm fertilizer with minor elements should be used during the growing season. Magnesium and potassium nutritional deficiencies have been noted, particularly in older kentias. Mineral supplements should be administered in recommended amounts to prevent or treat such deficiencies. Kentia palms in pots or tubs can be left in the same container for many years due to their slow growth. Kentia palm can be attacked by spider mites, scale insects, Cylindrocladium leaf spot, stigmina and other fungal leaf spots. They are also susceptible to lethal yellowing disease.

Comments and Curiosities

The famous Kentia Palm from Lord Howe Island, off the east coast of Australia, hardly needs any introduction. It is considered by many to be the best house plant in the world. Tolerant of poor treatment and neglect, it will put up with low light better than almost any other palm. It is also an excellent landscaping plant that will do well in shade as well as full sun in most warm temperate/subtropical climates. It can take light freezes but does not like hot, tropical climates. (RPS.com).

Probably the most widely used and most popular "house plant" of all time, dating back to the Victorian ages in England, where it recieved it's common name of "Parlor Palm." Literally hundreds of millions of seeds/plants have been exported from Lord Howe for this purpose.

Etymology: Kentia palm gets its name from the capital city of Lord Howe Island, Kentia, and the genus name, Howea, honors the island. The species name, forsteriana, honors New South Wales Senator Henry William Forster, who was a key in obtaining woman suffrage for Australia. Kentia. (Floridata.com)



External Links

References

Phonetic spelling of Latin names by.

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.

Banner1B
Back to Palm Encyclopedia


Retrieved from "https://palmpedia.net/wiki/index.php5?title=Howea_forsteriana&oldid=136515"