PACSOA - Archontophoenix Key

Palms

Archontophoenix Key

A Key To The Species Of Archontophoenix

Crownshaft dark-green, blue-green, bronze-green, brown or purple
Pinnae with ramenta on abaxial midrib
Pinnae lacking silver/grey scales beneath
Durras Mt (NSW) to Eungella Ra.(QId)
A. cunninghamiana

Pinnae with silver/grey scales beneath
(Crownshaft purple)
Mts Lewis, Spurgeon and Finnigan (Qld)
A. purpurea

Pinnae lacking ramenta on abaxial midrib;
(Crownshaft blue-green)
Warrill Creek/Barron River (Qld)
A. myolensis

Crownshaft lime-green, whitish green or light to mid-green
Leaves usually 3.5 m or more long, 60 or more pinnae each side of rachis; pinnae usually rigid
Leaves ascending, held rigid, petiole absent or very short
Walsh River and tributaries (Qld)
A. maxima

Leaves arching, petiole present
Baffle Ck to Bathurst Bay (Qld)
A. alexandrae

Leaves usually less than 3.5 m long, less than 55 pinnae each side of rachis;
pinnae tending to be semi-pendulous at the apex
Mcllwraith Range to Cape York (QId)
A. tuckeri

Table Of Differences In Species Of Archontophoenix
Species C/shaft Leaf Flower Fruit
A. alexandrae light-mid green long/twisted: grey scales; no ramenta white/cream stamens 9-16 pink/red: 8-14 mm fibres thick
A. cunninghamiana dark green/red/purple long/twisted: no grey scales; ramenta lilac/purple stamens 9-18 red: 10-15 mm fibres thick
A. maxima mid green long/erect/twisted: grey scales; no ramenta white: stamens 11-16 red: 13-15 mm fibres thin
A. myolensis blue/green long/twisted:grey scales; no ramenta white/cream: stamens 14-24 red: 13-21 mm fibres thin
A. purpurea red/purple long/flat: grey scales; ramenta white/cream: stamens 20-34 dark red: 20-26 mm fibres thick
A. tuckeri light- mid green short/flat: grey scales; no ramenta white/cream: stamens 13-19 red/brick red: 17-25 mm fibres thin

Contributed by: John Dowe

Reproduced from PALMS & CYCADS No. 39, Apr-Jun 1993.

A Key To The Species Of Archontophoenix

Crownshaft dark-green, blue-green, bronze-green, brown or purple
	Pinnae with ramenta on abaxial midrib
		Pinnae lacking silver/grey scales beneath
			Durras Mt (NSW) to Eungella Ra.(QId)
				*A. cunninghamiana*

		Pinnae with silver/grey scales beneath
		(Crownshaft purple)
			Mts Lewis, Spurgeon and Finnigan (Qld)
				*A. purpurea*

	Pinnae lacking ramenta on abaxial midrib;
	(Crownshaft blue-green)
			Warrill Creek/Barron River (Qld)
				*A. myolensis*

Crownshaft lime-green, whitish green or light to mid-green
	Leaves usually 3.5 m or more long, 60 or more pinnae each side of rachis; pinnae usually rigid
		Leaves ascending, held rigid, petiole absent or very short
			Walsh River and tributaries (Qld)
				*A. maxima*

		Leaves arching, petiole present
			Baffle Ck to Bathurst Bay (Qld)
				*A. alexandrae*

	Leaves usually less than 3.5 m long, less than 55 pinnae each side of rachis;
	pinnae tending to be semi-pendulous at the apex
			Mcllwraith Range to Cape York (QId)
				*A. tuckeri*

Table Of Differences In Species Of Archontophoenix
Species	C/shaft	Leaf	Flower	Fruit
A. alexandrae	light-mid green	long/twisted: grey scales; no ramenta	white/cream stamens 9-16	pink/red: 8-14 mm fibres thick
A. cunninghamiana	dark green/red/purple	long/twisted: no grey scales; ramenta	lilac/purple stamens 9-18	red: 10-15 mm fibres thick
A. maxima	mid green	long/erect/twisted: grey scales; no ramenta	white: stamens 11-16	red: 13-15 mm fibres thin
A. myolensis	blue/green	long/twisted:grey scales; no ramenta	white/cream: stamens 14-24	red: 13-21 mm fibres thin
A. purpurea	red/purple	long/flat: grey scales; ramenta	white/cream: stamens 20-34	dark red: 20-26 mm fibres thick
A. tuckeri	light- mid green	short/flat: grey scales; no ramenta	white/cream: stamens 13-19	red/brick red: 17-25 mm fibres thin

Contributed by:	John Dowe

Reproduced from	PALMS & CYCADS No. 39, Apr-Jun 1993.