Metroxylon warburgii
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 Island of Tutuila, America samoa. M. warburgii var. tutuileansis, a red leaved form. Photo by John Strazicich. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Fiji, Samoa, Santa Cruz, and Vanuatu Islands.
Description
Metroxylon warburgii; Solitary, (monocarpic); stem 6-7 m tall, up to 30 cm in diameter; leaves up to 3 m long, bearing spines in transverse ridges or series; inflorescence suprafoliar, branched to 3 orders, all branches erecto-patent, first order branches 1-1.5 m long; flowers large, corolla up to 1 cm long; fruit inversely pear-shaped, (4-) 7-12 cm long, (3.5-) 6-9 cm wide, with 24 rows of red-brown scales; seed in upper, wider part. (proseanet.org) Editing by edric.
Culture
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b
Comments and Curiosities
Etymology: Specific epithet honors German botanist; Otto Warburg (1859-1938), was born on 20 July 1859 born in Hamburg, the son of wealthy Jewish parents. Since his family lived, however, free from Jewish traditions, he received a humanistic education. He completed his university studies from 1879-1883 in Bonn, Berlin, Hamburg and Strasbourg. Early on, he devoted himself entirely to botany and received his doctorate at the famous botanist DeBary. (From the German)
Uses: The leaves are used as roof thatch in Vanuatu, and they are now also trying to develop an industry of nut carving. The nuts are extremely hard and the carvers produce things like animal figures, jewelry and napkin rings which are then exported.
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The origin of Metroxylon is disputed: Moluccan, Moluccan and New Guinean, or Melanesian. It only occurs in South-East Asia and several island groups of Micronesia and Melanesia. The distribution areas of the seven species in this genus within this area are neighbouring but hardly overlap. Metroxylon sagu is the most widespread and naturalized throughout South-East Asia. The other four occur from the Federated States of Micronesia and the Bismarck Archipelago north of New Guinea to Western Samoa far to the east of it.; - Metroxylon amicarum is found in the Federated States of Micronesia (native in Pohnpei and Truk, probably planted in Nukuoro, and in Kusaie), and cultivated in the Philippines and in Guam.; - Metroxylon salomonense grows in Papua New Guinea (north-eastern New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Bougainville Island), throughout the Solomon Islands (e.g. Guadalcanal, Santa Cruz Islands), and in Vanuatu (probably imported).; - Metroxylon warburgii is found in Vanuatu (indigenous), in West Samoa, and in the Fijian depency Rotuma, while its occurrence on Tikopia in Solomon Islands is uncertain.; - Metroxylon vitiense only occurs in Fiji (e.g. on Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, and Ovalau). (proseanet.org) Metroxylon warburgii: With a mature height of less than 9 m (30 ft.), this comparatively small (for a Metroxylon) species grows on wet or swampy ground on many of the Vanuatu and Samoan Islands. A quite attractive and extremely fast growing palm for the tropics. The large "snakeskin"-fruits can reach up to 12 cm (5 in.) in diameter. (RPS.com) Southern form: With a mature height of less than 10 m (33 ft.), this comparatively small (for a Metroxylon) Metroxylon grows on wet or swampy ground. It is a very attractive and extremely fast growing palm, almost an "instant palm", that can reach nearly 2 m (7 ft.) in a year and its mature height in as little as 8 years. As a seedling, it also makes a very showy indoor plant. The large "snakeskin"-fruits can reach up to 12 cm (5 in.) in diameter. The durable seed is frequently used as vegetable ivory. This form from the southern Islands of Vanuatu is said to be more tolerant of cool conditions and is not only suited to the humid tropics, but also to some frost free warm temperate regions, where it likes a place in full sun with plenty of water available. (RPS.com) |
- IMAGE GALLERY
Fairchild Botanical Garden, FL.
Fairchild Botanical Garden, FL. Trunk detail.
Hawaii. Photo by BGL.
Recife, Brazil. Photo by Gleno Machado.
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Hummingbird nest on the oldest frond of Metroxylon warburgii. Photo by Jeff Anderson.
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Hummingbird nest on the oldest frond of Metroxylon warburgii. Photo by Jeff Anderson.
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Photo by Jeff Anderson.
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Photo by Jeff Anderson.
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Photo by Jeff Anderson.
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Photo by Jeff Anderson.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Vanuatu Island. Photo by Mike Green.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens, Kaneohe, O`ahu, Hawaii. Photo-Southeast Growers, Inc.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens, Kaneohe, O`ahu, Hawaii. Photo-Southeast Growers, Inc.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens, Kaneohe, O`ahu, Hawaii. Photo-Southeast Growers, Inc.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens, Kaneohe, O`ahu, Hawaii. Photo-Southeast Growers, Inc.
Kailua, Kona, Hawaii. Photo by Lee Tracy.
Kailua, Kona, Hawaii. Photo by Lee Tracy.
Photo-botanic.jp.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Cairns, Australia. Photo by Pilou.
Island of Tutuila, America samoa. M. warburgii var. tutuileansis, a red leaved form. Photo by John Strazicich.
Island of Tutuila, America samoa. M. warburgii var. tutuileansis, a red leaved form. Photo by John Strazicich.
Island of Tutuila, America samoa. M. warburgii var. tutuileansis, a red leaved form. Photo by John Strazicich.
Island of Tutuila, America samoa. M. warburgii var. tutuileansis, a red leaved form. Photo by John Strazicich.
Southern form. Rare Palm Seeds.com
Southern form. Rare Palm Seeds.com
Rare Palm Seeds.com
FIJI: Vanua levu Island. Photo-L.H. Bailey Hortorium, edric.
Photo-bgbm.org.
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.
