Verschaffeltia splendida
| Verschaffeltia (vehr-shaf-FELT-ee-ah) splendida (splehn-DEE-dah) | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Verschaffeltia splendida is Endemic to the Seychelles. This canopy or
Description
Erect palm up to 25 m tall, usually much shorter. Trunk smooth but scarred where leaves have fallen; spiny when young; rings of dark spines pointing downwards at top of trunk on older trees; numerous aerial roots at the base. Leaves up to 3 m long with bi-lobed apex. Leaf stalks (petioles) spiny on young trees only. Flower stalks (inflorescences) up to 2 m long, drooping beneath leaves of crown. Fruits spherical, brownish-green becoming red when mature.
The distinguishing feature of this palm from the Seychelles, is the stilt roots supporting the slender stem. The leaves split along the margins irregularly with age, and may appear pinnate. The dark brown fruit that are produced on hanging infructescences are 2-3 cm long. (James Cook University) Editing by edric.
Culture
Tropical in its requirements, but will grow in a sheltered position in the sub-tropics. Likes a position sheltered from the wind, (to keep the leaves intact), full sun or shade, and moist, but well drained soil.
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b firm.
Comments and Curiosities
This is a monotypic genus.
Uses: The timber from this palm was historically used for the production of water gutters and the walls of huts.
Conservation: Verschaffeltia splendida has a very restricted range as it occurs only on three islands in the Seychelles. It does not seem to be obviously threatened except by its restricted range. The invasion of alien plant species and habitat loss due to human settlements are potential threats to this species, but it does not seem to be strongly affected by these threats. It is listed as Near Threatened, because of the gradual reduction of its natural habitats from the invasion of alien plants such as true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) and Malabar plum (Syzygium jambos).
"Magnificent palm with spiny trunk, large, mostly unsplit wide leaves and ALWAYS has stilt roots. This is the priemier stilt root palm to grow in the tropics- it's a reliable and relatively fast grower there (hopeless here in southern California). In its native Seychelles, it can grow up to 80', high on steep, moutain slopes." (Geoff Stein)
A beautiful species from the Seychelles that sports a slender, spiny trunk, supported by prominent stilt roots, and large, undivided leaves. The large seeds are easy to germinate and the seedlings are fast growing. They are best in a humid, warm subtropical or tropical climate but can also easily be kept indoors in containers. For a more cool tolerant alternative see Astrocaryum alatum. (RPS.com)
- IMAGE GALLERY
Hawaii.
Ho'omaluhia, Hawaii.
Ho'omaluhia, Hawaii.
Hawaii..
New Leaf, Hawaii.
Hawaii. Photo by BGL, edric.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garde, Florida. Photo by Dr. Carl E. Lewis/Palmweb.
National Tropical Botanic Garden, Hawaii. Photo by Dr. William J. Baker, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Bogor, Java, Indonesia. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Mah, Seychelles. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garde, Florida. Photo by Dr. Carl E. Lewis/Palmweb.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey, UK. Photo by Dr. William J. Baker, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden.
Peradeniya botanic garden, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
Peradeniya botanic garden, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
Nephrosperma van-houtteanum on the left and two Verschaffeltia splendida middle and right. Peradeniya botanic garden, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
1/2011 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
8/2011 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
8/2011 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
4/2012 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
4/2012 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
12/2012 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
12/2012 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
12/2012 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
In Brief Garden, Bentota, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
In Brief Garden, Bentota, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
In Brief Garden, Bentota, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
In Brief Garden, Bentota, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
In Brief Garden, Bentota, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe.
Saint Denis, La Réunion Island. "Photo by Olivier Reilhes".
Saint Denis, La Réunion Island. "Photo by Olivier Reilhes".
Medellin, Colombia. (1,500 Mts. or 5,000 feet above see level), Photo by Jeff Anderson.
Disney's Animal Kingdom, orlando, FL. Photo by Eric S., Botanist, H.P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, FL.
Miami, FL. Photo by Kyle Wicomb.
Photo-edenproject.com
Photo-edenproject.com
Photo-edenproject.com
Photo-edenproject.com
Photo by Peter Richardson.
Photo by Peter Richardson.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Drew Avery.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Drew Avery.
Whitsundays, Nth Queensland, Australia. Photo by Richard Ellem.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Lyon Arboretum, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Lyon Arboretum, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Conservatory plant, southern California. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Conservatory plant, southern California. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein.
Hana, Maui, Hawaii. Photo by einaudi.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, Pamplemousses, Mauritius. Photo by timrann.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, Pamplemousses, Mauritius. Photo by timrann.
Clayton York's Garden, Utopia Palms & Cycads, Queensland, Australia. Wal giving scale. Photo by Wal.
Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Paul Latzias.
Roma Street Parklands, Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Paul Latzias.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Paul Latzias.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Paul Latzias.
Las Marías, PR. Photo by Cindy Adair.
Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Photo by Lee Tracy.
Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Photo by Lee Tracy.
Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Photo by Lee Tracy.
Hawaii. Garden of William S. Merwin, 17th U.S. Poet Laureate. Photo by Lee Tracy.
Marco & Gerardo Herrero's Farms, 2008 costa Rica. This was a pot-bound Verschaffeltia splendida. 2008 IPS Biennial. Photo by Ryan D. Gallivan.
Photo by migacebo.
Photo by migacebo.
Photo by migacebo.
Photo by migacebo.
1.dried fruits / 2.seeds with shell / 3.cleaned seeds ready to sow. Mauritius. Photo by timrann.
External Links
- Glossary of Palm Terms
- MODERN BOTANICAL LATIN
- "Just To Be Clear"
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P27eLyDmkDQ
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos, edric.
Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos, edric.
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.
