Beccariophoenix fenestralis

SUB CATEGORY PALMS OF MADAGASCAR

Floribunda, Hawaii, Jeff Marcus for scale, photo by BGL, edric.

Beccariophoenix
(bek-kahr-ee-oh-FEE-niks) fenestralis

Lyons Arboretum, Hawaii

Scientific Classification

Genus:	Beccariophoenix (bek-kahr-ee-oh-FEE-niks)
Species:	fenestralis

Synonyms

None set.

Native Continent

Africa

Morphology

Habit:	Solitary
Leaf type:	Pinnate

Culture

Survivability index

Common names

None.

Habitat and Distribution

Endemic to Madagascar.

Description

Beccariophoenix fenestralis is a spectacular, massive Coconut relative, that is rare and endangered.

Culture

Obviously this is a great palm for the tropics, growing fast, tall and extremely robust. In the more humid climates it seems wind and full sun hardy. However, in a drier, cooler climate such as southern California, this has been a struggle for palm enthusiasts for several decades now. Since it does survive here (it has a cold tolerance down into the 20Fs, but it doesn't like staying down there), it is grown very often, but few individuals survive to adulthood, nor look all that great trying to get there. This hapless palm is constantly struggling in California with chlorosis (particularly in hot sun), does very poorly in dry winds, and cool winters are very hard on it (plants generally stop growing completely and foliage appearance tends to decline). It is extremely prone to bud rot when tap water gets in the crown in cooler seasons. Now that there are two superior Beccariophoenix for California, maybe most palm enthusiasts will discontinue the palm torture and direct their energies elsewhere.

Comments and Curiosities

External Links

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).

IMAGE GALLERY
Floribunda Palms, Jeff Marcus for scale. Hawaii.
Floribunda Palms, Hawaii.
Floribunda, Hawaii, Jeff Marcus for scale, photo by BGL, edric.
Photo and Garden - Mike Jamison, Port Macquarie, Australia.
Big Island, Hawaii. Photo by BGL, edric.
Big Island, Hawaii. Photo by BGL, edric.
Harold L. Lyon Arboretum, a 200-acre arboretum in Mānoa Valley, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by BGL, edric.
Ho'omaluhia, Hawaii.
Hawaii.
Ho'omaluhia, Hawaii.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Florida. With 'windows'. Phoyo by Dr. William J. Baker, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
With windows.
Lyons Arboretum, Hawaii.
Pahoa, Hawaii, photo by Charles Maas, edric.
Pahoa, Hawaii, photo by Charles Maas, edric.
Pahoa, Hawaii, photo by Charles Maas, edric.
Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.
Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.
Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.
Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.