Drymophloeus oliviformis

Drymophloeus (dry-moh-FLEH-uhs) oliviformis (oh-lee-VIH-form-miss)
Senderawoi, West Papua, Indonesia. Photo by Dr. William J. Baker, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Drymophloeus (dry-moh-FLEH-uhs) Species: oliviformis (oh-lee-VIH-form-miss)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Oceania
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Drymophloeus oliviformis is native to forests of Maluku, and

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Pattaya, Thailand. Photo by Dr. Scott Zona.

New Guinea.

Description

It is a small-medium sized palm with a slim solitary trunk and broad wedge shaped leaflets. The flesh of the red mature fruits irritates the skin.

Culture

In cultivation it requires shade and good drainage and needs to be well watered. Requires tropical or warm sub-tropical conditions.

Comments and Curiosities

"Atrractive small, dainty palm with very thin trunk and slightly bulging crwonshaft and fishtail leaflets, from Papau (near New Guinea). This palm is nearly extinct in the wild, but is becoming available in cultivation. Very tropical in its requirements." (Geoff Stein)

This rare, delicate species is native to the Indonesian island of Ambon and has an elegant, slender appearance. Beautiful as an understorey palm for tropical regions, it would probably also do well as a house plant. (RPS.com), edric.