Trachycarpus latisectus
Trachycarpus (trahk-ee-KAHR-puhs) latisectus (lah-tee-SEHK-tuhs) | ||||||||
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Photo-Martin Gibbons and Tobias W. Spanner | ||||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Trachycarpus latisectus is found in India: in the foothills of the Sikkim;Description
This is a moderately tall dioecious palmate species, up to 40'/12m tall and a trunk about 5-6"/15cm in diameter. The leaves of this species tend to be less finely split than most other Trachycarpus, and are a slightly lighter green.
Solitary, unarmed, dioecious fan palm to about 12 m tall; trunk slender, erect, bare, light grey, obscurely ringed, (10-) 14-17 cm diameter, clothed in persistent, fibrous leaf-sheaths for 0.6-2 m below the crown. Leaves (8-) 15-25, forming an erect, open ciown, some leaves reflexed, marcescent leaves numerous, forming a small skirt below the crown; leaf-sheath fibrous, 3O cm long or more, coarse, abaxial surface covered in pale tomentum, broadly triangular towards the apex, not breaking down into threads; petiole (50-) 120-140 cm, slender (about 2.5 cm. wide and 1.2 cm high near the middle), flat above, slightly keeled towards the leaf-blade, broadly triangular to rounded beneath, margins smooth sharp-edged base very thick and robust, about 3.8 cm wide and 2 cm high, covered in pale tomentum; hastula less than 1 cm long, broadly triangular, slightly crested; leaf-blade palmate, 3/4 to completely orbicular, 65-85 cm long from hastula, 110-135 cm wide, leathery, dark green above, with thin whitish tomentum along the folds, slightly glaucous beneath, with clearly visible cross veinlets, nearly regularly divided for less than half its length into 65-75 stiff, linear segments with two inconspicuous longitudinal folds on either side of the midrib, tapering towards the apex from their broadest point, arranged at slightly differing angles, producing a slightly convoluted leaf profile; central segments 65-80 cm long 3.5-5 cm wide at middle, with a prominent midrib beneath, lateral segments gradually more narrow and shorter, to about 2l-45 cm long and 1 cm wide, the more lateral segments joined for nearly the entire length in groups of 2-4, apex of central segments acute, notched, of lateral segments acuminate, bifid for 1-3 cm. Inflorescence's 3-6, solitary, interfoliar, branched to three orders. Male inflorescence 60-100 cm long, spreading; peduncle short; prophyll two-keeled, apex acute; peduncular bract single, keeled, base tubular, inflated distally, about 7 cm wide in the distal portion, apex acuminate; rachis bracts 3, similar to peduncular bracts; rachillae short, about 2 mm diameter, yellowish; flowers globose,2.5-3 mm diameter, yellowish, arranged in groups of 2-4 on short pedicels; sepals ovate-triangular, joined into a fleshy base for lower l/4; petals nearly orbicular, minutely triangular-tipped, 3 times as long as sepals; stamens 6, slightly exceeding petals; filaments ventricose; anthers broadly ovate-sagittate, blunt; pistillodes less than half the length of the stamens. Female inflorescence 100-150 cm long, stiff, spreading; peduncle about 50 cm long, oval in cross section, 4.2 cm wide, 1.8 cm high; prophyll two.keeled, about 30 cm long, apex acute; peduncular bracts 2, keeled long, tubular, about 4.5 cm wide. apex acuminate; rachis bracts 3, similar to peduncular bracts; rachillae 5-8 cm long, 1-2 mm in diameter, yellowish-green (in fruit); flowers globose; about 1.5 mm in diameter, yellowish, usually in pairs, subsessile, sepals briefly connate into a distinctly swollen base; petals oblong-orbicular, twice as long as sepals; staminodes 6, slightly exceeding petals; carpels with a very shdrt, conical style, stigma punctiform. Fruit shortly stalked, oblong-ellipsoid, flattened on one side, 16-18 mm long, 1l-13 mm wide; epicarp thin, yellowish-brown when ripe, turning bluishblack; mesocarp thin, fibrous; seed oval-oblong, flattened or shallowly depressed and grooved on one side, 13-16 mm long, 8.5-11 mm wide; endocarp very thin, with a crustaceous sand-like layer of light brown, small, irregurlar scales; endosperm homogeneous with a deep, lateral intrusion. Germination remote-tubular, eophyll simple, plicate, to 2 cm wide, glabrous. (M. Gibbons. 1998)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.
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Cultivation: Trachycarpus latisectus is a frequently cultivated ornamental in Kalimpong and environs and its future in cultivation there seems fairly secure. Young plants are commonly encountered. Being cold-hardy as well as fast and easy to grow, it has good prospects of becoming a popular ornamental for temperate and subtropical regions. Seeds from cultivated trees around Kalimpong have been distributed to many growers around the world during recent years as Trachycarpus "sikkimensis", a provisional name of no botanical standing, relating to the area of its historical distribution being floristically and or geographically known as the "Sikkim Himalayas". Although many growers and enthusiasts may have become familiar with the name T. "sikkimensis" in the meantime, we have decided for a number of reasons not to use this name as the specific epithet of this new species and hope we will not have added too much to the confusion alreadys surrounding this genus. Note: There is no recent taxonomic treatment of the genus Trachycarpus (but see Beccari 1931, Kimnach 1977, and Gibbons 1996). Relationships of T. latisectus will be dealt with in a conspectus of the whole genus, which will appear in a later publication. (M. Gibbons. 1998)/Palmweb. |
Culture
Since it is from a rainforest area in India, it is suspected to have the most tolerance for a subtropical climate relative to the other Trachycarpus species. Whether true or not, it certainly does not have an impressive tolerance of frost (defoliated as a young palm at just 27F/-2.7C). It does seem to withstand inland Mediterranean dry heat but it's leaves do blanch a bit in very hot, dry weather. This palm seems much happier with some shade/protection in dry, Mediterranean climates. It is a moderately slow growing species, at least compared to most other Trachycarpus species. It responds well to heavy watering, and fertilization, and does not appreciate drought conditions.
Comments and Curiosities
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Etymology: The specific epithet latisectus (with wide segments) was chosen for this species unusually wide leaf segments, a characteristic through which it usually can be easily identified from olher members of the genus. (M. Gibbons. 1998)/Palmweb. Conservation: In Sikkim and two locations in West Bengal, it has apparently not been recorded for at least 60 years and could not be relocated to date. It is under immediate threat of extinction in the wild with only about 50 plants surviving in what may be its last remaining site on a steep, deforested slope on rocky soil at Mirik Busty on the Relli River between 1300 and 1400 m, where it is unable to reproduce. Unless immediate action is taken, the chances for its survival in the wild seem bleak. (M. Gibbons. 1998)/Palmweb. Uses: The stems have reportedly been used in construction. Trachycarpus latisectus is a rare Indian palm from moderate elevations in the mountain rainforests. A synonym for this palm is T sikkimensis, referring to Sikkim, an area of India in which it is found. This recently-found and now officially described palm is surely one of the most exciting new discoveries for temperate area palm enthusiasts. It has large, robust, nearly circular, fan-shaped leaves like a Livistona. It sheds them naturally, leaving a smooth, slender trunk. It grows fast and easily and withstands snow and heavy frosts, coming, as it does, from high altitudes up to 2400m (8000ft), but it is equally suitable for sub-tropical climates. It certainly is a most talked-about palm. (RPS.com) |
External Links
- Glossary of Palm Terms
- MODERN BOTANICAL LATIN
- "Just To Be Clear"
- http://www.palmsociety.org/members/english/chamaerops/035/035_36.shtml
- http://www.palms.org/principes/1998/windamere.htm
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbFXKQYZckE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bIUXuA6QvU
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJocjH53WWw
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.
Special thanks to http://palmweb.org/?q=node/2 Palmweb.org], Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.
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).
Gibbons, M.1998. Trachycarpus latisectus: The Windamere Palm. Principes 42: 24-29.
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.