Difference between revisions of "Dypsis angustifolia"

This species is closely related to D. zahamenae from which it can be distinguished by the blade being narrow, and divided to three quarters rather than one third of its length, by the inflorescence rachis, being usually more elongate with more distant rachillae, by the rachilla bracts being inconspicuous and, almost entirely obscured by hairs, rather than being large and conspicuous, and by the staminate flower buds being rounded rather than pointed, with striate rather than smooth shining petals. In all but one collection (one of the two specimens collected under Beentje 4494) there is a well developed long petiole, whereas in D. zahamenae the petiole is usually very short or absent. Previously considered to be a variety of D. humbertii (= D. zahamenae) we consider it to be sufficiently distinct to be elevated to a specific rank. (J. Dransfield and H. Beentje. 1995)/Palmweb.

A diminutive palm of the forest undergrowth, known from Betampona and environs northeast of Toamasina. This is one of three species of Dypsis that have highly condensed inflorescences with very short fat flower-bearing branches that appear almost catkin-like. The species name is Latin for having narrow leaves.

"Dypsis angustifolia, this is the true form with thin entire bifid leaves, which the species was named after, that always has a green new leaf with this form. This species has an inflorescence simular to that of some of the Calyptrocalyx... being that it can have up to what looks like 4 sperate peduncle/rachilla emerging from behind each leaf sheath which are joined at the base of the inflorescence (see photo), like what is seen in some of the calyptrocalyx species. It's a very easy species to grow and has quite thick leaves so it would probably tolerate colder conditions than it receives here with temps down to 2 to 3C, and still looks like it is actively growing in our winter months, this plant is quite old so they do not take up much room and could be grown as an indoor potted plant for most of it's life in the right conditions with out any problems, much like a Chamaedorea palm." (Clayton York, Utopia Palms & Cycads), See photos 'true form' below.

"Dypsis angustifolia broad leaf form, now here is a form of a species that does not live up to its name.! This Palm has been sold under the Name Dypsis louvelii, there are a few species that as seedlings it's very hard to impossible to tell apart from Dypsis louvelii, here are just a few the first is Dypsis Pulchella with this species even when they are mature it's near impossible to tell this species from louvelii unless you look at the flowers and the stamens, then you have Dypsis mocquerysana these look very simular as small plants as well. Then we have Dypsis angustifolia this seems to have at least two forms the thin leaf form as listed in Palms of Madagascar and a broader leaf form, which can have a reddish new leaf as well...! This is what has been sold as Louvelii in the last few years so you just might want to check your plants, unfortunately you will not be able to tell that it's not Louvelii until they start to clump, and then once they flower you can be 100% sure of what you have, so i will list some photos here of the inflorescence of Dypsis angustifolia and some of the habitat photos of the mature plants so all can see what these plants are going to grow into, not all of these will have new reddish new leaves but they will all clump and they do all look to be this broader leaf form, which I thought was lost quite a few years back when a large section of bush was cleared with this broad leaf form in it, but this form although I only have a few plants from this old locality did not seem to have this new red leaf like the ones from this new locality. So here are some habitat photos of Dypsis angustifolia with the broad leaves and also a broad leaf form, that gets a new red leaf." (Clayton York, Utopia Palms & Cycads), See photos 'Broad leaf form that has new red leaf, and var. NO new red leaf' below.

Conservation: Endangered; occurring in two sites in low numbers. (J. Dransfield and H. Beentje. 1995)