Ptychosperma salomonense
Ptychosperma (ty-koh-SPEHR-mah) salomonense (sah-lah-mohn-EN-seh) | |||||||
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Mt. Warning Caldera, Nth. NSW Australia. Photo by Pete | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
New Guinea, Solomon Is.Description
Native to tropical rainforest on the Solomon Islands, this variable palm produces a slender trunk that can reach 12 m (39 ft.) tall, topped by a dense crown of elegantly arching leaves to 3.5 m (11 ft.) long with numerous, broad, arching leaflets, altogether not unlike P. elegans. It will flourish in a sheltered location in the tropical garden. (RPS.com)
Culture
Requires a sheltered, moist, but well drained position in the tropics, or warm sub-tropics. Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b
Comments and Curiosities
"This is an elegant, solitary palm to 12m tall, with a dense crown of long, arching, broadly divided, pinnate leaves. Very similar in appearance to P. elegans, the main difference being that P. salomonense is of smaller stature and the crownshaft is of a slightly different colour. P. salomonense is also very fast grower, much quicker than P.elegans and is often thought to be more attractive." (Scott Maclean)
"Tall, thin trunked, solitary pinnate elegant palm up to 40' tall. From the Solomon islands. Fronds arch slightly and palm looks a lot like the common Ptychosperma elegans, only maybe taller. Leaflets a bit wider, too. Some have managed to grow this palm in southern California in very warm 10a zones, but palms don't look good during the winter months." (Geoff Stein)
Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, FL. "Ptychosperma salomonense is native to the rainforest on the Solomon Islands. A solitary palm with a slender trunk, this palm will emerge through the understory to reach about 40 feet tall, with a dense crown of broad pinnate leaves. A fast grower, plant it in a moist, sheltered location." Photo: FTBG.
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.