Palms   Dypsis pinnatifrons

Synonymy: Dypsis gracilis , Dypsis sambiranensis , plus many others. Common Names: Unknown Distribution & Habitat: Widely spread in lowland and montaine rainforest along the east and north-west coast of Madagascar. Description: A very attractive palm, up to 12 metres tall, but with quite a thin stem. The leaves, up to about 2m long are dark maroon when young, then turn a dark, shiny green as they mature. They can be widely spread over the stem, which gives the head of the palm a very distinctive character. General: A very popular collectors palm, although it should be far more widely grown, given its attractiveness, and ease of culture. Very good for group planting. Culture: Prefers shade as a youngster, altho it can take full sun as its gets older. Likes the standard moist, but well drained potting mix. Figure 1. Attractive young plant of D. pinnatifrons .   Figure 2. D. pinnatifrons with a nice red new leaf. Figure 3. D. pinnatifrons with a dark red new leaf. Figure 4. A group of mature D. pinnatifrons at Palm Fascinations. Note the bushy head of leaves, and full sun position. Figure 5. A nice head of leaves. Note the cupped leaflets, and red new leaf. Figure 6. D. pinnatifrons inflorescence. Reference: The Palms of Madagascar by Dr. John Dransfield, and Dr. Henk J. Beentje.   Contributed by: Colin Wilson (Figure 1,2&3) Mike Gray (Figures 4,5&6) For further information try Monocot Checklist Palm Web