Common Names:
Northern Kentia
Synonyms:
Gronophyllum ramsayii
,
Kentia ramsayii
Distribution & Habitat:
Open eucalypt forest and rainforest edges in the Northern Territory, Australia.
Description:
Popularly known as the Northern Kentia,
these tall, robust, solitary pinnate palms
are majestic in the wild. Their glaucous dull
leaves arch strongly, the stiff leaflets rising
from the rachis to form a trough or "V".
Cultivated specimens show a thicker trunk.
Cultivation:
Domesticating this species has proved
slow, mainly due to the horrendous
germination rate, 1% being usual, and this
after waiting 12 months or more. Seed is
planted in deep trays, as long brittle roots
are formed. When finally the first strap leaf
appears, extra care is needed moving them
into pots, using one big enough to
accommodate two years growth. Lightly fertilize
and keep damp until 4 to 6 stiff bifid leaves
are produced. Then they are planted out in
dappled shade, as further growth seems
unlikely, After gaining only 1 or 2 leaves in
their first year they accelerate into more
than normal growth rates, producing
longer, pinnate, arching leaves. Plentiful
water, good drainage and light fertilizing
are necessary.
Rarely available from nurseries,
most H. ramsayi
are grown by
enthusiasts for their own use. Once
established, the Kentia is a lovely, easily
maintained addition to the garden, its
blue-green foliage contrasting with the
creamy crownshaft.
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Figure 1. H. ramsayi
in cultivation, Darwin, NT.
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