Difference between revisions of "Trachycarpus princeps"

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==Comments and Curiosities==
 
==Comments and Curiosities==
 
Etymology: The specffic epithet (L. princeps; literally - a prince) refers to the stately bearing of this palm and the majestic way it looks down, from its lofty position on the sheer cliff faces.
 
Etymology: The specffic epithet (L. princeps; literally - a prince) refers to the stately bearing of this palm and the majestic way it looks down, from its lofty position on the sheer cliff faces.
 +
 +
Note: "With much confusion about what is a real princeps , we always declare provenance.
 +
To clarify the confusion regarding the various forms, this is the Golden Lotus Nursery statement:
 +
''-Collecting seeds at the Stone-gate is mostly a waste of time.
 +
-So, I get the T. princeps from another mountain-area. That's why my seedlings have a blue colour!!!! The T. princeps from The Stone Gate are green.`` Our plants are grown from Golden Lotus seed and have the bluer leaf colouration. Whilst this plant is generally recognised as the `real princeps` it may turn out to differ to the true Stonegate form.
 +
Whether or not it is the true Stonegate form is irrelevant because the leaf colouration and white backs make it unique and highly sought after." (gardenpalms.com)
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
*[http://eunops.org/content/glossary-palm-terms Glossary of Palm Terms]
 
*[http://eunops.org/content/glossary-palm-terms Glossary of Palm Terms]

Revision as of 01:36, 24 August 2014

Trachycarpus (trahk-ee-KAHR-puhs) princeps (PREHN-sehps)
Trachycarpus princeps blue-silver WP 0a4.jpg
Border of China, Tibet and Burma. Photo-gardenpalms.com
Scientific Classification
Genus: Trachycarpus (trahk-ee-KAHR-puhs)
Species: princeps (PREHN-sehps)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Asia.gif
Morphology
Habit: solitary
Leaf type: Costapalmate
Height: 30ft/9m
Trunk diameter: 6-8in/15-20cm
Culture
Sun exposure: full hot sun
Watering: moderate/not wet
Soil type: well draining
Survivability index
Common names
Stone Gate Palm

Habitat and Distribution

Trachycarpus princeps is From southern China where it grows on steep cliffs made of mostly limestone.

Border of China, Tibet and Burma. Photo-gardenpalms.com

China, Yunnan, Nujiang county, 3 km NW of Bingzhongluo on the banks of the Nujiang, on the two almost vertical, bare marble cliffs of the Shi Men Guan (Stone Gate) and below the cliffs in mixed, evergreen monsoonal rainforest on a black, humus-rich, alkaline soil (pH 7.5-8); 1,550-I,850 m a.s.l. (M. Gibbons. 1995)/Palmweb.

Description

This dioecious, palmate palm is fairly sought after in cultivation, not just because of its rarity, but its uniquely glaucous underside to the leaves, at least relative to the other Trachycarpus species. The leaves are nearly circular and finely/evenly split deeply. The color on top is a deep green with a hint of yellow in them, at least in full, hot sun. It tolerates full hot sun, and cold, a lot better than Trachycarpus latisectus and martianus, but not as well as the super hardy Trachycarpus species (fortunei, takil and wagnerianus). As a seedling it is a relatively fast grower, with long, thin petioles and somewhat V shaped leaves. As it ages, the leaves become more circular and the glaucous underside becomes somewhat more pronounced (though some seedlings show a dramatic white coloration to the undersides, this is not always the case). Adult palm leaves vary from a pale blue-green underside to nearly pure white. Trunks are about 6"-8"/15-20cm in diameter, and the palm supposedly tops out at around 30'/9m. The trunk tends to have retained, dead leaves over a loose, fibrous weave- not as prounounced as in T. fortunei, though. Editing by edric.

Culture

This is a moderately hardy palm, showing some cold damage at or around 25F/-3.8C in a Mediterranean climate. Whether or not it can tolerate a subtropical climate may not be known yet. It's growth is also moderately fast for a Trachycarpus, but not as fast as T. fortunei or takil. It appreciates lots of water, and seems to be tolerant of a variety of soil types. Though tolerant of hot, inland sun, it seems to appreciate a bit of protection from intense, dry heat.

Comments and Curiosities

Etymology: The specffic epithet (L. princeps; literally - a prince) refers to the stately bearing of this palm and the majestic way it looks down, from its lofty position on the sheer cliff faces.

Note: "With much confusion about what is a real princeps , we always declare provenance. To clarify the confusion regarding the various forms, this is the Golden Lotus Nursery statement: -Collecting seeds at the Stone-gate is mostly a waste of time. -So, I get the T. princeps from another mountain-area. That's why my seedlings have a blue colour!!!! The T. princeps from The Stone Gate are green.`` Our plants are grown from Golden Lotus seed and have the bluer leaf colouration. Whilst this plant is generally recognised as the `real princeps` it may turn out to differ to the true Stonegate form. Whether or not it is the true Stonegate form is irrelevant because the leaf colouration and white backs make it unique and highly sought after." (gardenpalms.com)

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).

Gibbons, M.1995. Trachycarpus princeps, the Stone Gate Palm ,an Exciting New Species from China. Principes 39: 65-74.


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

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