Palms   Dypsis utilis

Synonymy: Vonitra utilis Common Names: None Habitat: Stream banks/swamps of east Madagascan rainforest. Description: A large palm to about 15m tall, with a trunk which branches dichotomously 2 or 3 times starting quite low to the ground. A very fibrous, untidy crownshaft. The new leaf is often an attractive dark red colour. General: Quite popular with collectors, due to the branching habit of the trunk. Culture: Sunny, very moist position.

Figure 1. D. utilis in the Sri Lanka Botanical Gardens. Notice the branching trunk.

Figure 2. Looking into the crownshaft.

Figure 3. D. utilis in habitat, Madagascar

Figure 4. Ditto

Contributed by:

Rolf Kyburz, K-Palms

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