Cyphokentia cerifera

Cyphokentia (sigh-foh-kent-EE-ah) cerifera (seh-rih-FEHR-ah)
Location: Touho, New Caledonia.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Cyphokentia (sigh-foh-kent-EE-ah) Species: cerifera (seh-rih-FEHR-ah)
Synonyms
Moratia cerifera
Native Continent
Oceania
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Moratia palm

Habitat and Distribution

Cyphokentia cerifera is endemic to New Caledonia, This species is found on the northeast

Col d'Amos, New Caledonia. Photo by Dr. Jean-Christophe Pintaud/Palmweb.

side of the mainland. In rain forests. Substratum: In areas consisting primarily, of deep sedimentary substrate, (shale or mica).

Description

Hight: up to 20 m. with a trunk diameter of 18 cm., crownshaft at maturity, first orange, then turning reddish brown, then covered by a powdery white, waxy coating, with reddish orange beneath. Crown holds between 8 to 10, markedly recurved pinnate leaves, 1 to 1.80 m. long, with a petiole 10-22 cm. long, covered with green and brown scales; sheath from 50 to 95 cm. long, orange or pink to lilac, and covered with a white wax outside, orange inside. Inflorescences arise under leaves, virtually splitting the base of the crownshaft, 1 x 1.5 m. long, a green, or greenish orange color, rather murky, branched and spreading, pendulous after anthesis. Fruit is thick, globose, 11-13 x 12-14 mm., red to black when ripe, seeds 6 x 8 x 6 mm. Editing by edric.

Culture

Very slow growing. Reportedly very difficult to germinate. Hardiness: USDA Zone: 10a

Comments and Curiosities

"Very rare, slow growing monotypic genus from New Caledonia...has a wonderfully white powdery crownshaft with red-orange beneath, and markedly recurved pinnate leaves (solitary palm). No experience with it in California, but if they grow any slower than they do in the tropics, it will be generations before anyone finds out. Reportedly very difficult to even germinate." (Geoff Stein 2007)