Chuniophoenix nana
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Chuniophoenix nana is found in open forest, in Southern China and Vietnam.
Description
Tightly suckering palmate palm, up to 5' tall, (though usually shorter). Leaflets end in points, and minimal fiber on stems. stems/canes of about 2cm diameter, and costapalmate leaves of around 35 cm diameter. It has hermaphroditic or bi-sexual flowers borne on intra-foliar inflorescences, monocious, (i.e. both male and female parts are present in the same flower and only one plant is needed for reproduction), and hence self-fertilisation can take place. It has clusters of orange-red fruits. Somewhat resembles a Rhapis species. Stems about 1/4" inch in diameter and no spines. Very 'user-friendly' palm. (Geoff Stein September 2007)
Culture
Southern California experience: This is a very underused palm in southern California and remarkably cold tolerant and easy to grow. It is a pretty slow grower, and much faster in a tropical climate... but it is not an expensive palm and larger plants can be purchased from Hawaiian sources and shipped over. It is at least cold hardy to the mid 20s, and though it may nor rival Rhapis excelsa in cold hardiness, it is indeed close. This is a good palm for smaller areas- it will never outgrow an area, and it does prefer mostly filtered light... though along the coast or milder climates, it does seem to tolerate full sun for at least part of the day. Reportedly it performs tolerably as an indoor palm, but I have no experience with that. (Geoff Stein September 2007)
Comments and Curiosities
This is a tillering palm, it exhibits saxophone style root growth (it has a heel), keep top third of heel above soil elevation!
Small 4 ft palm has slender 1 inch diameter canes with deeply divided fan leaves. It spreads by suckering. Flowers are hermaphrodite and are followed by clusters of small orange fruits.
A diminutive palm to only about 1.5m (5ft) tall with dainty, narrow, fan-shaped leaves, reminiscent of a Rhapis. This palm should make a perfect pot plant as it is quite tolerant of low light. (RPS.com)
- IMAGE GALLERY
Xishuang Banna, China. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Xishuang Banna, China. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Xishuang Banna, China. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Kwangtung Botanic Garden, Hainan, China. Photo by Dr. J.B. Simmons, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Kwangtung Botanic Garden, Hainan, China. Photo by Dr. J.B. Simmons, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
California.
Another flower on the same stem.
Flower in Vero Beach, Florida on young plant.
Photo by Matthew, edric.
SoCal. Photo by Geoff Stein.
SoCal. Photo by Geoff Stein.
SoCal. Photo by Geoff Stein.
SoCal. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Floribunda Nursery, Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
SoCal. Photo by Geoff Stein.
SoCal. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Photo-Rare Palm Seeds.com
Photo-Rare Palm Seeds.com
Kew Gardens. Photo by Colin Wilson, edric.
Kew Gardens. Photo by Colin Wilson, edric.
Kew Gardens. Photo by Colin Wilson, edric.
Flecker Botanic Gardens, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
Seacrest Beach, Florida. Photo by David Simms.
Seacrest Beach, Florida. After 25 F. Photo by David Simms.
Photo-www.coldplant.com
Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Daryl O'Connor.
Jacksonville, FL. Photo by Ed Brown III.
Photo by Kim.
Photo by Palmnerd.
Mango, Tontouta, New Caledonia. Photo by Ben.
Photo-Jungle Music Palms & Cycads.com
Photo-Rare Palm Seeds.com
External Links
- Glossary of Palm Terms
- MODERN BOTANICAL LATIN
- "Just To Be Clear"
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcGULRDs7KI
- THE SAXOPHONE STYLE ROOT GROWTH (HEEL)
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.
