Carpentaria acuminata

Fairchild Tropical Garden, Coconut Grove.

Carpentaria acuminata

AUSTRALIA: Darwin, 1964.

Scientific Classification

Genus:	Carpentaria
Species:	acuminata

Synonyms

Kentia acuminata

Native Continent

Oceania

Morphology

Habit:	Solitary
Leaf type:	Pinnate

Culture

Survivability index

Common names

Carpentaria Palm

Habitat and Distribution

Escape Cliffs, NE of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Occurs in the top end of the NT. Altitudinal range, from near sea level to 200 m. Grows in canopy or subcanopy of rainforest, Allosyncarpia forest, vine forest and swamp forest on sandy to heavy clay loam soils.

Description

Solitary palm, 9-30 m tall with a DBH of 15-20 cm, grey to light tan with widely spaced rings. Leaves 10-12 per plant. Leaves pinnate, 2-4 m long, arching; pinnae many, narrow, arching, 40-60 x 1.2-1.5 cm long, deep green. Crownshaft smooth, green. Inflorescence arise from the upper leaf bases, and then progressively down the trunk, 1-2 m long with flower clusters 90-120 cm long, pendant, much branched, beneath the crown shaft bearing white male and female flowers. Flowers ca. 10 mm across. Sepals 3, petals 3 and the flowers in groups of 3, with 1 female between 2 male flowers. Male flowers with 30-40 stamens. Fruit globular and up to 20 mm diameter, scarlet when ripe with up to 3 seeds within. Seeds smooth.

Culture

The red fruit is planted in trays, defleshing is wise but not essential, as the flesh can burn sensitive skin. Bifid leaves will appear in 3 or 4 months, the seedlings are then tubed. Heavy shading results in long red petioles and large dark bifid leaves for 18 months before a pinnate leaf develops. Once they have filled a 200mm pot they will be about 2 years old, 2m tall, have some pinnate leaves and be ready to plant out. Heavy irrigation, fertilizer and mulch are required for best results. It establishes easily in gardens and is handsome in all stages of its rapid growth. Until the palm reaches maturity, the leaves are spaced evenly up the trunk, with the leaflets lying flat. As it ages, a crownshaft develops, the leaves arch and the pinnae rise to form a "V". Transplanting older specimens is usually successful. Carpentarias can be used indoors, being popular with plant hire companies triple planted. In a community of mixed species they will outgrow the others, adding height to the garden quickly. When spaced out in the sun as an avenue, the Carpie will grow uniformly, its self cleaning habit a bonus.

Comments and Curiosities

May be confused with Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, which has pink to lavender flowers and all linear leaflets, rather than white to greenish-white flowers and broad apical leaflets in Carpentaria acuminata; Veitchia sp. which have leaflets that are drooping, rather than held in a V-shape.