Difference between revisions of "Dictyosperma album"
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Revision as of 07:44, 17 January 2012
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Habitat and distribution
Dictyosperma album is found in tropical areas. It is nearly extinct in habitat because of wholesale conversion to farmland.
Description
Dictyosperma album is a medium-sized palm generally reaching about 12 meters (36 feet) in height. Its small fruit is inedible. It is called the hurricane palm because it can suffer strong winds (usually) without being destroyed. This is quite a variable palm and propagation is by seed.
Culture
In tropical or semitropical climates such as Brisbane, Durban, Miami, Singapore or Honolulu (or in a warm, humid greenhouse anywhere), these are among the fastest-growing palms. They are also called Hurricane Palms because damage from storms that wreck other plants is repaired near-overnight by the palms' rapid natural growth rate.
They are tender to freezing cold, with qualifications. A brief freeze in Miami, or southeastern Brazil, for example, will cause damage, but, usually, not death, when the freeze is immediately followed by warm, humid weather. Dictyosperma are much less tolerant of the long, cool spells (nights under 50 F) that characterize winters in Mediterranean climates like Southern California, Western Australia or southwestern South Africa. In such places, they "spot out" (turn yellow with brown spots) and stop growing until warm weather comes again in spring. Likewise, they also perish quickly in true desert areas or as newly-planted specimens in "reverse dry desert winds" in warm temperate climates, such as the Santa Anas in California, or the Scirocco in southern Europe.
One possible trick for raising these palms in a warm temperate climate (the warmer the better) is to plant them among other leafy plants, like flowering gingers, bananas, or bamboo, which raise the ambient humidity and create a more-favorable microclimate. Dictyosperma album var. rubrum is possibly more tolerant to dry Mediterranean climates and has been seen growing perfectly in inland San Diego in half day sun. A nice specimen also grows in La Habra, California, about 20 miles from the sea.
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.
