Pronunciation: tierce-SPUR-muh bur-ret-ee-AN-um
Common Name: Paupan Fishtail Palm, Burretianum Palm
Pychosperma burretianum is a smaller, fairly marginal suckering species with almost fishtail-like leaflets that, if well grown, is a very ornamental specimen plant with nicely colored reddish new leaves. Telling this palm apart from Ptychosperma waitianum is a bit of a challenge as both have this suckering characteristic, new red leaves and fishtail leaflets. Both palms are from New Guinea.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: clustering with a head of 3-6 fishtail leaves per stem
- Height: 12'
- Trunk: multiple; 2" diameter; grey; ringed
- Crownshaft: 6" tall; dull green; barely thicker than stem below
- Spread: 3'-5'
- Leaf Description: pinnate; fishtail/triangular, premorse leaflets; 3'-4' long; deep green
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 6" long; dark green; rounded; unarmed; un-split leaf bases with a bit of white powdery surface near bases
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: red; 1'; pendant with a few branches
- Fruit:
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 32F
- Drought Tolerance: low
- Dry Heat Tolerance: low
- Cool Tolerance: low
- Wind Tolerance: low
- Salt Tolerance: unknown
- Growth Rate: slow
- Soil Preference: well draining and moist
- Light Requirement: shade to filtered sun
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: tendency to develop bud rot for no apparent reason
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: unknown
- Availability: rare
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San Diego county, California
palm in summer heat, Huntington Beach, California
Ho'Olamuhia Gardens, Oahu, Hawaii
Sullivan collection, Hawaii
