Ponapea ledermanniana
Ponapea (poh-nah-PEH-ah) ledermanniana (leh-dehr-mahn'-ee-ahn-ah) | |||||||
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Pohnpei Island. Photo: ez2plant.com/ | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Caroline Is. Native to Pohnpei and Kosrae. Although it is common on Kosrae, it is rare on Pohnpei. Isolated individuals and small populations are scattered in low elevation forest.Description
It grows to 12 m tall, and rarely extends beyond the surrounding tree canopy. This species has bright white inflorescences with 2-3 inch fruits are tapered at both ends. Height: 15-over 40 ft. (12 m). Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade. Unlike P. hosinoi, this species has bright white inflorescences, and its fruits are tapered at both ends. Its leaflets are narrower than those of P. hosinoi. (Dr. Carl E. Lewis, Researcher, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and Dr. David Lorence, Director of Science, National Tropical Botanic Garden.) Editing by edric.
Culture
Hardiness: USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Comments and Curiosities
Its fruits are edible, so it is sometimes grown in home gardens.
An elegant, slender, fast growing palm from rainforest on the Caroline Islands (Micronesia). (RPS.com)
Pohnpei and Kosrae have the only remaining patches of montane cloud forest in Micronesia, and the only indigenous palm, Located in the humid equatorial region on the southern edge of the typhoon belt, the islands at the eastern end of the Caroline chain are wet year-round. Rainfall in Pohnpei averages more than 4,500 mm annually, while parts of Kosrae, 550 km to the southeast, receive more than 6,400 mm per year. (ez2plant.com/)
External Links
Ponapea hosinoi, Ponapea ledermanniana
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).
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.