Dypsis henrici
Dypsis (DIP-sis) henrici (hehn-REE-see) | |||||||
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Perinet, Madagascar. (Dypsis humbertii). Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Madagascar. SE Madagascar. Humid forest; 60-300 m.
Description
(Dypsis henrici) Palm 2-3 m, very slender. LEAVES 4 or more in the crown; sheath about 6.6 cm, with oblique opening, with minute auricles to 2 mm high, red-brown, with scattered scales; petiole 5-6 cm long, about 2 mm in diam., with scattered scales; rachis 17-18 cm long, c. 2 mm in diam., with scattered scales; leaflets 2-5 on each side of the rachis, in 2 sub-opposite groups distant for 2.8-5 cm, proximal 8-9 x 0.7-1 cm, median 10-13 x 0.9-1.2 cm, the top pair forming a flabellum 12.5-14 x 9 cm, connate for 4.5-5.5 cm, the lobes 8-9 x 2.5-2.6 cm, proximal leaflets with 1 main vein, acuminate, distal leaflets with 6 main veins, the apices truncate and dentate, also the distal outer margins dentate, all leaflets glabrous or with a few scattered scales proximally. INFLORESCENCE about 34 cm, branched to 2 orders; peduncle about 19 cm long, distally 1.5-2 mm in diam., with scattered scales; prophyll 13-16 x cm, with scattered scales, open for the distal 5 cm or near the apex only; peduncular bract deciduous, inserted at 9 cm from the base of the peduncle; rachis about 10 cm, with scattered scales, with about 2 branched and 10 unbranched first order branches, the proximal with 2 rachillae each; rachillae 5.5-8 cm long, 1 mm in diam., minutely puberulous but glabrescent, with distant superficial triads. STAMINATE FLOWERS with sepals 0.5-0.6 x 0.7-1 mm; petals 1.8-2.1 x 1.2-1.3 mm, striate; stamens 6, slightly biseriate (offset 0.25 mm), filaments 1- mm long, the base slightly triangular, the distal part thin, anthers 1-1.3 x 0.4-0.5 mm, dorsifixed, versatile, the locules parallel and acute; pistillode 0.8-0.9 x 0.3-0.4 mm. PISTILLATE FLOWERS unknown. FRUIT unknown. Endemic to southeast Madagascar where it is known only from the Manantantely forest in the Taolagnaro region. (J. Dransfield & H. Beentje, The Palms of Madagascar. 1995)/Palmweb.
(Dypsis humbertii) Slender undergrowth palm, whether solitary or clustered not known. STEMS 0.5-1.2 m tall, 7-8 mm in diam., internodes 12-18 mm with scattered chestnut-brown scales. LEAVES 6-8 in crown; sheaths 7-9 cm long, 7-13 mm in diam., striate, covered in caducous chocolate-brown scales, apically with 2 narrow triangular auricles 7-9 x 3-4 mm, these soon disintegrating; petiole absent or to 7 cm long, 2 mm wide, triangular in cross section, densely covered in soft brown scales; blade entire bifid, 20-35 x 12 cm, with apical cleft not exceeding one third of blade length, or irregularly divided into broad leaflets, up to 3-4 on each side of the rachis; rachis 11-18 cm; leaflets 10-26 x 1.5-4 cm, apical pair (or tips of entire bifid blades) shallowly lobed, about 1 cm wide; lamina abaxially with abundant caducous brown scales along rachis and main ribs and with abundant punctiform scales, adaxially very sparsely punctiform scaly. INFLORESCENCE interfoliar, erect, branching to 1 order; peduncle 11-23 cm long, about 1.5-2 mm in diam.; prophyll about 10 x 0.5 cm, sparsely brown scaly; peduncular bract similar, exceeding prophyll by up to 6 cm; rachis 3-4 cm, densely brown hairy; rachillae 6-10, short, stout, condensed, usually diverging from rachis at right angles, 10-25 x 3 mm; rachilla bracts very close, conspicuous, rounded, 1.5 x 3 mm, densely covered in laciniate pale grey to brown hairs. STAMINATE FLOWER buds pointed, 1.5 x 1 mm; sepals imbricate, rounded, 1 x 1 mm, slightly keeled, margin erose; petals shining, not striate, 1.3 x 0.6 mm; stamens 3 antesepalous, staminodes absent, filaments connate into a tube about 0.7 mm high, anthers didymous, about 0.15 x 0.35 mm; pistillode minute. PISTILLATE FLOWERS known only in very immature bud. FRUIT unknown. Humid lower montane forest; 700-1000 m. Known only from mountains east of Lac Aloatra in Zahamena Reserve. (J. Dransfield & H. Beentje, The Palms of Madagascar. 1995)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.
Culture
Likes rich open soils and fertilize once a year responds to thick mulch. From 0.C to 40.C. Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a
Comments and Curiosities
Special note: There have been many moves, merges, and name changes, please see image text for details. edric.
(Dypsis zahamenae) With simple bifid corrugated leaves and new leaf bright red. This small growing Dypsis would fit in any garden still very rare this species will hopefully become available in cultivation in years to come grows very well in subtropics and would make an excellent tub specimen. (Utopia Palms & Cycads)
Conservation: (Dypsis humbertii) Vulnerable; only known from a small, though protected area, with some threat of shifting cultivation to the forests. (IUCN Redlist)
(Dypsis henrici) Collected once only and not seen since 1928 although the Manantantely forest still exists but is not well surveyed botanically. Until further surveys can be conducted to confirm if this species is still extant or not, it has to be listed as Data Deficient. The forest is not in a protected area. Surveys are required to confirm that this species is still extant and to determine its full range, population size and trends and what the threats to this species are.
External Links
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.
Special thanks to 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).
J. Dransfield & H. Beentje, The Palms of Madagascar. 1995
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.