Manjekia maturbongsii

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Manjekia (mahn-jeh-KEE-ah)
maturbongsii (mah-toor-BONG-see)
Np005462219.JPG
Image-DR. CHARLIE D. HEATUBUN, DR. SCOTT ZONA & DR. WILLIAM J. BAKER.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Manjekia (mahn-jeh-KEE-ah)
Species:
maturbongsii (mah-toor-BONG-see)
Synonyms
Old name - Drymophloeus veitchioides, Adonidia maturbongsii
Native Continent
Oceania
Oceania.gif
Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Manjek (Biak dialect).

Habitat and Distribution

Irian Jaya, and Biak Island.
Photo: DR. WILLIAM J. BAKER.
Lowland forest on limestone, with thin soils and many sink holes, 80-170 m elevation.

Description

Solitary palm. Stem 10-15 m tall, 10-20 cm in diam., tapering towards apex, surface brown with white blotches, internodes 2 - cm apart. Leaves c. 10 in crown; sheath 60-70 cm long, crownshaft 80-90 × 10-12 cm; petiole 26-45 cm long, rachis 2.5-3 m long; leaflets 25-30 each side of the rachis, basal leaflets 32-50 cm long, 1-4.5 cm wide, sometimes with rein up to 1 m attached, middle leaflets 40-49 cm long, 9-12 cm wide, apical leaflets 6.5-42 cm long, 2-4.5 cm wide. Inflorescence 60-70 cm long; prophyll 24-26 cm long, 6-8 cm wide, greenish white, splitting apically, caducous later; first peduncular bract 31-35 × 5-7 cm, attached 15-20 mm above prophyll insertion; peduncle 8-14 cm long, 2-2.5 cm wide; primary branches 25-28, longest primary branch (basal-most) 40-65 cm; rachillae 8-19 cm long, 1.5-3.5 mm in diam., floral triads 3-9 mm apart. Staminate flower 6.5-8 mm long, 2.5 ? 3.2 mm in diam. in bud; sepals 2-2.4 mm long, c. 3 mm wide; petals 7-7.5 mm long, c. 3 mm wide; stamens 30-32, 4.5-6 mm long; filaments 1.5-4 mm long; anthers 3-3.8 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm wide; pistillode c. 5 mm long, 1.2-1.4 mm in diam. Pistillate flower 4.5-5 mm long, c. 4.5 mm in diam.; sepals 3-4 mm long, 4-4.5 mm wide; petals 4-4.5 mm long, 3-3.5 mm wide; staminodes 2-3; gynoecium c. 4 mm long, c. 3 mm in diam. Fruit 24-31 mm long, 14-16 mm in diam.; pericarp 1.5-3 mm thick, endocarp 23-30 mm long, 12-12.5 mm in diam. Seed 14-20 mm long, 9.5-12 mm in diam, ellipsoid (Figs 4, 5). (C.D. Heatubun, S. Zona & W.J. Baker - Three new genera of arecoid palm (Arecaceae) from eastern Malesia in Kew Bull.. 2014)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

Distinguished from other genera of subtribe Ptychospermatinae (tribe Areceae) by its moderately robust, solitary habit, arching leaves, broadly lanceolate pendulous leaflets with wide, concave, praemorse apices, white inflorescence axes and terete, straw-coloured endocarp with broad, adherent, longitudinal fibres interspersed with very fine fibres. (C.D. Heatubun, S. Zona & W.J. Baker - Three new genera of arecoid palm (Arecaceae) from eastern Malesia in Kew Bull.. 2014)/Palmweb.

Culture

This palm is a moderately robust and excellent garden plant suitable for well-drained soils (clay; loam; sand; slightly alkaline or acidic) except those that are soggy. Amend the soil with organic peat moss or top soil when you plant. Surface roots are usually not a problem.

Light: Prefers full sun but will take some shade, if indoors place in a position where it will get some sun during the day. Seedlings like a more sheltered area.

Drought tolerance: In cultivation they appreciates abundant waterings. During the summer or warmer months, water frequently to keep the soil from drying out.

Fertilization: Need a perfect fertilizer diet including all micro nutrients and trace elements or slow release fertilizer. Apply fertilizer 3 times a year, in spring, summer and fall...and if the palm is planted in full sun, fertilize more often. In a full sun location the fronds tend to turn lime-green or yellow, so the extra fertilization helps prevent this discolouration.

Hardiness: Very cold sensitive, and so it is only really suited to the tropics in frost-free regions (USDA Zones 10b-12). Aerosol salt tolerance: Not known. Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b

If home-grown, give some sun as with most tropical palms, and water well and feed once monthly, but looks much better when planted in the ground and will thrive if given a spot in light shade. Its very neat appearance and stature makes it perfect for use in courtyards, atriums, terrace, specimen and close to swimming pools.

Comments and Curiosities

Etymology: The new generic name is based on Manjek, the local name in Biak dialect for this palm. The species epithet, coined previously (Baker & Heatubun 2012), honours Rudi Maturbongs, palm expert at Universitas Negeri Papua and first collector of herbarium specimens of the species.

Uses: The stems are used for flooring and pillars in traditional houses.

Conservation: Endangered.



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).


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

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