Linospadix minor

Linospadix (lihn-oh-SPAH-dihks) minor
Queensland, Australia. Photo by Dr. John Leslie Dowe.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Linospadix (lihn-oh-SPAH-dihks) Species: minor
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Oceania
Morphology
Habit: Clustering Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Jakarungle

Habitat and Distribution

Queensland. Recorded from the southern McIlwraith Range where it has limited

Mission Beach, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.

distribution, and abundantly from just south of Cooktown (Mt. Amos area) to Mission Beach (Licuala State Forest) and as far inland as Windsor Tableland. Reported in New Guinea, but identification is not certain. From sea level to 1200 m elevation, in rain forest on basalt, granite, and metamorphics. (J.L. Dowe. 1997)/Palmweb.

Description

Clustering small palm. Stems l-5 m tall, 7-20 mm in diam.; internodes elongate, green; crown with 7-12 leaves. Leaves to 110 cm long; irregularly segmented with united pinnae; segments with broad bases, or regularly pinnate with narrow pinnae; petiole 3.6-51 cm long, 1-4 mm wide; pinnae 3-24 per leaf, semiglossy dark green above, lighter green below, midrib prominent on both surfaces, veins not prominent on lower surface; lamina chartaceous, irregularly corrugated, when backlit under 10X magnification, with scattered, circular clear "cells" to 0.1 mm wide linearly parallel to midrib and veins. Inflorescence to 80 cm long. Staminate flowers squatly bullet-shaped in bud, to 3 X 2 mm wide; petals apically rounded, with conspicuous longitudinal striations, green at anthesis, not widely opening; stamens 7-20, attached at different levels in the staminal cluster; connective not extending beyond the anther; anther lobes irregular or uneven. Fruit elongate/cylindrical, 8-18 X 3-8 mm, yellow or red at maturity, epicarp irregularly rugose when fruit is fully mature. Seed elongate/ellipsoid. (J.L. Dowe. 1997)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

Although Hill (1874) did not mention a specific collection in his protologue, his collection from Bellenden-Ker (MEL [79769] is here chosen as the lectotype. Linospadix minor is the most vegetatively variable species in the genus. Plants may be sparsely or densely clustered, and leaves may be small to large with few to many segments. (J.L. Dowe. 1997)/Palmweb.

Culture

"Relatively good palm for understory or shadier gardens in Southern California as long as not too cold- doesn't like it when the temps go below 28 F. I have had several in the ground for many years and they are slow, suckering palms. Have bifid leaves and attractive fruit. I tried one as a house plant but their needs for light and humidity made it a difficult house plant." (Geoff Stein)

Comments and Curiosities

Etymology: Named for its smaller stature as compared to L. monostachyos, the only other species known at the time of its description. (J.L. Dowe. 1997)/Palmweb.