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| This genus of six large palms, which are dioecious, has naturalized in such areas as
Southeast Asia, subtropical Africa, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The costapalmate leaves emphasize the massive stature of these
palms. |
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1. B. flabellifer (Palmyra Palm)
Height: up to 60 feet
Size of crown: 25 feet wide and tall |
Cultural requirements and other comments: The original habitat
of this palm is thought to be India, and can it can be seen naturalized in open savannahs in India, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
These dioecious palms can get very large and dominate a landscape with their almost circular costapalmate leaves, which can be
8-10 feet long. It is tolerant of most well-drained soils and some drought, but grows faster with consistent watering. It is
slow to start and has a moderate growth rate after trunk development.
When the seed ‘sprouts,’ it sends a modified root, the hypocotyl, which carries the embryo to a depth of 3 feet. Eventually, the
leaf bursts out of the hypocotyls, and the palm begins its journey. The Palmyra Palm has been cultivated by humans for millennia
and rivals the coconut in importance in some local economies in Asia. Some biblical scholars have even suggested that the
“apple” of the Garden of Eden was the sweet tasting fruit of the B. flabellifer. |
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