Ptychosperma schefferi

Ptychosperma (ty-koh-SPEHR-mah) scheferi (shef'-fehr-ee)
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. Photo by Dr. William J. Baker, Royal Botanical Garden, Kew.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Ptychosperma (ty-koh-SPEHR-mah) Species: scheferi (shef'-fehr-ee)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Oceania
Morphology
Habit: Solitary & clustering. Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Scheffer's Palm

Habitat and Distribution

Endemic to the Central north coast of

French Guiana. Photo by Pierre Olivier Albano.

New Guinea.

Description

Small palm, solitary or clustering, growing from 4.7 to 7 m (15 to 20 ft, sometimes 25 ft) tall. It has dark green leaves, and a whitish covering on the crownshaft, The flowers are white in color and are followed by a dark purple fruit. Editing by edric.

Culture

Quite common in cultivation in the tropics.

Comments and Curiosities

Solitary variety. Just survived a 28 degree night in zone 9B, St. Petersburg Florida, without even "bronzing". Its up against a fence, but otherwise had no other protection. The specimen is about 2 years old and 4 feet tall.

Loves the alkaline soils of the Florida Keys. One of the few 'solitare' type palms that thrives here. From time to time the Keys get pretty dry...desert dry...this palm doesn't seem to mind.

"Very attractive clustering to solitary palm from New Guinea. the clumping form is particulary nice in a large clump, about the only thing you can see are the neat, perfect leaves with wide emerald green leaflets. Soliary specimens are far more ordinary looking." (Geoff Stein)

A moderately sized species from northern and central New Guinea, with clustering, slender trunks to about 7 m (23 ft.) tall. Young plants are particularly attractive with large undivided leaflets. (RPS.com)