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Palms
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana |
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Common Names: Bangalow or Piccabean Palm
Climate Zones:
Habitat:
Description: The leaves, which have paler stalks, are bright green above and below, although there can also be brown scales underneath. They are much heavier looking than A. alexandrae , and consequntly are more likely to be damaged by heavy winds. Thus they are often better suited to more sheltered areas, while A. alexandrae can take more exposed positions. |
 Figure 1. A. cunninghamiana in natural habitat (Mt Tambourine, SE Queensland). |
The base of the petioles form a greenish-yellow to brown crownshaft that the leaves rarely droop below. The trunk is smooth and ringed with noticible leaf scars, although thinner and with more widely spaced rings than A. alexandrae . It can get to about 1/3 metre (one foot) in diameter.
Flowers are formed below the crownshaft with the creamy flower stalks holding mauve flowers. The round green fruit, about 12 mm (1/2 inch) in diameter, turn bright red at maturity. There is often a noticible bulge in the crownshaft before the flowers emerge which gives the tree a "pregnant" look.
General:
These are also very popular palms in Australia, and more cold-tolerant than
A. alexandrae
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Culture:
These palms can be grown in full sun (if the water is kept up to them), or in the shade. They do like more water than most palms, with some even thriving in poorly drained areas. In their native habitat, they can often be seen growing next to and even in creek beds. It is quite a fast grower, averaging about 1/3 - 1 metre (1-3 feet) per year.
Figure 2. Another Bangalow in natural habitat.
Figure 3. Forest of Bangalows at Mt. Mee, south-east Queensland.
| Contributed by: | Michael Gray |
| Daryl O'Connor (Figure 1&2) |
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Monocot Checklist |
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