Difference between revisions of "Dypsis minuta"

Revision as of 11:24, 25 September 2012

• SUB CATEGORY PALMS OF MADAGASCAR

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Philippines. Photo by Gene Brace, editing by edric.

Dypsis minuta
Philippines. Photo by Gene Brace, editing by edric.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Dypsis Species: minuta
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Africa
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Endemic to Madagascar. Masoala and Maroantsetra. Lowland rain forest; ridgetops; alt. 200-550 m.

Description

Solitary palm, stem 15-50 cm. STEMS to 5 mm diam.; internodes c. 1-2 cm, densely rusty-red hairy; nodal scars 0.2 mm. LEAVES 5-8 in the crown, entire or with several leaflets (fide JD6371, but not apparent from collection); sheath 6-9 cm long, half open, densely red-pubescent, with long-laciniate auricles to 1 cm; petiole 3-18 cm long, 1.5-2 mm diam., densely scaly; lamina entire, 19.5-33 cm long, bright greyish green, midrib 4.5-6 cm, lobes 16-26 x 1.3-2.5 cm, main veins 4-6, with minute reddish scattered scales on major and minor veins, white wax present? or white-punctate, apices narrowly dentate, 2- 4 mm wide. INFLORESCENCE interfoliar, unbranched (a single bifid rachilla present in JD6457), erect to spreading; peduncle 6-19 cm; prophyll 7-15 cm, pale brown, open in the distal 1 cm; peduncular bract inserted at 6-11.5 cm from the base of the peduncle, 3-12 cm long, glabrous or with scattered scales, open for most of its length; non-tubular peduncular bract often present, 1.5-2 mm long; rachilla 4- 12 cm long, 1-2 mm diam., minutely puberulous or glabrous, with distant triads. STAMINATE FLOWERS with sepals 0.7-0.9 x 1-1.9 mm, ciliolate; petals 1.7-2 x 1.1-1.2 mm; stamens 6, uniseriate, filaments 1-1.2 mm, anthers 1.3-1.4 x 0.4 mm, versatile; pistillode c. 1 x 0.3 mm. PISTILLATE FLOWERS white; sepals 0.6-1.2 x 1-1.5 mm, ciliolate; petals 1.8-2.5 x 1.5-1.8 mm; staminodes 0.3-0.4 mm; gynoecium on a 0.2 mm stalk, 1.7-2.3 x 1.2-2 mm. FRUIT when young 11-12 x 2-3 mm.

Very similar to D. coriacea but differs in the pubescent leaf sheath, the curved (not erect) inflorescence and the less leathery leaf, at least when fresh.

Culture

Warm, sheltered and moist.

Comments and Curiosities

The name of this exquisite little palm, which is resticted in its distribution, indicates its size; it is a tiny solitary palm, one of the smallest on the island.

Conservation: Vulnerable. Occurs over a restricted distribution area, without official protection; numbers are thought to be fairly low.

External Links

• Glossary of Palm Terms
• Pronunciation Key

References

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos, edric.

Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.