Ravenea latisecta
Ravenea (rah-vehn-EH-ah) latisecta (lah-tih-SEHK-tah) | |||||||
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Hawaii. Photo by BGL. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Endemic to Madagascar. Only known from the Andasibe area. Moist forest at alt. 900-1000 m, steep slope near hill crest.Description
Medium-sized undergrowth palm. TRUNK 6-10 m, 15-20 cm diam., internodes 4.5-12 cm, nodal scars c. 5 cm; wood hard. LEAVES 6-13, porrect to spreading; sheath 60-74 x 20 cm, white-tomentose to pinkish, abaxially with many small tufts of black hairs (not in Beentje collections); petiole 15-50 cm, proximally 7 x 4 cm across, distally 5 x 5 cm, with a dense brown tomentum; rachis c. 3.6 m, in mid-leaf 2-2.5 cm wide, almost flat abaxially and covered there with soft brown or white tomentum, adaxially with keel; leaflets stiff to slightly drooping, in one plane, about 73 on each side of the rachis, the proximal 55-100 x 2.5-3.5 cm, median 60-105 x 5-6.8 cm, distal 12-34 x 1.5-3.7 cm. STAMINATE INFLORESCENCES interfoliar, according to Jumelle solitary, but multiple in 5s-7s in Beentje collections, pendulous when dead, 140-160 cm, branched to 2 orders; peduncle 60-90 cm, 8 x 7 mm across; prophyll not seen; peduncular bracts seen 86, 160, 176 cm long; rachis 57-84 cm, with 30-40 branched and 32-60 unbranched first order branches; rachillae 3.5-20 cm, 0.7-1 mm across, with spaced flowers; pedicels 0.3-0.5 mm. STAMINATE FLOWERS with the calyx connate for 0.9 mm, with free lobes 0.5-0.6 x 0.2 mm; petals free, 2.4-2.5 x 1.2 mm; stamens equal, free, with filaments 0.1-0.2 mm and anthers 1.4 x 0.4 mm, rounded at base and apex. PISTILLATE INFLORESCENCE (description from Jumelle) ?solitary, with peduncle 60 cm long, 3 x 1.5 cm across; bracts 20 cm (inserted at 5 cm from the base of the peduncle), 80-85 cm and 90 cm (inserted at 10-15 cm), 70 cm (inserted at c. 70 cm) respectively; rachis 15 cm or less; rachillae c. 50 in number, close, 35-45 cm long. PISTILLATE FLOWERS with the calyx small, with the sepals connate for about half, the free part triangular; old petals marcescent, black, ovate, acuminate, 3.6 mm; older ovary oblong, with stigmatic remains lateral. FRUIT (description from Jumelle) long-pedicellate, ovate or elliptic, 10 x 7 mm, yellow turning red; stigmatic remains lateral. (J. Dransfield and H. Beentje. 1995)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.
The type is not in Paris, and could not be traced in any other herbarium. We are suspi- pistillate inflorescence by Jumelle, and we believe he only saw part of the rachis, probably the proximal part. His statements about the inflorescence being solitary or multiple are notoriously unreliable; if the pistillate inflorescence is multiple, this taxon could be an extreme form of R. madagascariensis. We failed to find any pistillate trees in Mantady, and we have included the species in the key according to Jumelle"s description. (J. Dransfield and H. Beentje. 1995)/Palmweb.
Culture
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a
Comments and Curiosities
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This is a dioecious genus. A rather doubtful species; it is quite possible that this is really the same as R. madagascariensis, but female trees are needed to solve the question. The Latin name refers to the wide leaflets. (J. Dransfield and H. Beentje. 1995)/Palmweb. Conservation: Endangered. The species only occurs in a single site, and numbers are very low (we have seen four trees). (J. Dransfield and H. Beentje. 1995)/Palmweb. Critically Endangered; The palm has been collected only from Andasibe region, in the centre-east of Madagascar, inside the protected area. Its population not been located in the wild since 1992, when it was last recorded only four mature trees were seen. Based on this information this species is listed as Critically Endangered under criterion D, because if it still exists, the numbers are likely to be very low and certainly under 50 mature individuals. Surveys are required to relocate this species to determine its status. There is a possibility that it might have gone extinct, but there have been insufficient targeted searches to even list it as Possibly Extinct. Known only from the Analamazaotra Reserve. Surveys are required to locate additional plants of this species to determine the full range, population size and trends and what threats may be impacting it. (ICUN Red List) "Very rare species that is very attractive as a seedling; long slightly arching and twisted pinnate leaves with slightly drooping leaflets. As a mature palm it can look a bit like a solitary Ravenea madagascariensis. Floral features are used to differentiate... but to me looks a LOT different as a seedling." (Geoff Stein) This is a tillering palm, it exhibits saxophone style root growth (it has a heel), keep top third of heel above soil elevation! |
External Links
- Glossary of Palm Terms
- MODERN BOTANICAL LATIN
- "Just To Be Clear"
- THE SAXOPHONE STYLE ROOT GROWTH (HEEL)
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).
Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995. The Palms of Madagascar. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and The International Palm Society.
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.