Palm Trees - Beccariophoenix madagascariensis

Beccariophoenix madagascariensis

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Beccariophoenix madagascariensis at The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, England - July 2006

General Information
Family:
Arecaceae
Common Names:
Maruala Palm
Window Pane Palm
Synonyms:

Distribution:
East Central Madagascar
Southest Madagascar
Habitat:
Mid Elevation
Rainforest Canopy
Conservation Status:
Endangered
Habitat Threats:
Habitat Loss
Infrastructure
Native Uses:
Food Source (Palm Heart)
Crafting (Hat Making)
Commercial Uses:

Physical Characteristics
Height:
Up to 6m (20ft)
Spread:
Up to 8m (26ft)
Growth Habit:
Solitary
Growth Rate:
Slow When Young
Trunk Type:
No Crownshaft
Brown Woody Appearance
Trunk Diameter:
Up to 350mm (14")
Leaf Type:
Pinnate
Leaf Size:
Up to 5m (16ft)
Leaf Colour:
Bright Green
Petiole:
Unarmed
Self Cleaning:
Inflorescence Colour:
Whitish
Reproduction:
Monoecious
Fruit Description:
Up to 25mm (1")
Ovoid
Fruit Colour:
Purple/Brown

Cultural Requirements
Light:
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Soil:
Moist
Well Draining
Humus Rich
Watering:
Frequent
Maintain Moisture
Min. Temp:
-2°C (28°F)
Tolerances:
High Humidity
Salt
Propagation:
Seed
Germination:
1-3 Months
25-30°C (77-86°F)
Planting:
Single
Open Areas
Uses:
Specimen
Availability:
Specialist Nurseries
Seed Distributors

References: IUCN 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 14 December 2004.
Kew World Checklist Of Selected Plant Families. <www.kew.org/wcsp/home.do>
Maas, P. J. M. & H. Maas-van de Kamer. Costaceae. Pp. 413-423 in, B. E. Hammel, M. H. Grayum, C. Herrera, & N. Zamora (eds.), Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica. vol. II. Gimnospermas y monocotiledóneas (Agavaceae- Musaceae). Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 92: 1-694.
Noblick, L.R. Ph.D., 1998. Hardiness Observations In Palm Species. <www.bg-map.com/PLMTBLA.HTML>
Riffle,R.L. & Craft,P. 2003. An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms.