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Only the keenest of palm collectors and growers are familiar
with these delightful, small, pinnate palms from the humid
jungles of Asia. The genus comprises some 18 described
species found at low to middie elevations of south Thailand,
Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. There is usually only one
species in a locality, often gregarious. One leaf-form
usually predominates on a clump and is also most common in a
single locality.
The generic name is derived from the resemblence of its
flower stalk to the tail of the Iguana, an amphibian reptile.
Iguanura
species can be solitary or clustering
sometimes reaching 3 metres in height. Very often
Iguanura
have just a rosette of leaves with two or
three sinuous, slim trunks. The leaves are usually
irregularly divided into broad, jagged tipped leaflets, and
sometimes small stilt roots develop.
These little known palms are giving botanists a really
hard time. The degree of leaf division is very variable which
gives very different appearences to any given species. As
well as this the inflorescence may branch variably. This has
deceived many botanists into describing as different species,
when in fact they are the same. The presence or absence of a
crownshaft is another confusing feature. The flowers are
unisexual, with the male flowers opening first.
In the Malaysian jungle the most commonly encountered
are the following three species of Iguanura:
I. geonomaeformis
Fairly common in the lowland rainforest of the east coast.
It can be solitary or can form small dense clumps, between 1
and 2.5 m in height, sometimes forming stilt roots. The
leaves are 60 to 120cm long, greyish below, usually divided
into broad irregular leaflets. Rarely the leaf is simple with
a deeply forked tip. There is no crownshaft, the
inflorescences are amongst the leaves, and rarely branched.
I. polymorpha
Mostly found in northern Malaysia, and also Sarawak. The
stems are slender, with prominent joints. The leaves have a
distinct crownshaft, with the leaflets rather distant,
spreading like butterflies wings. The inflorescences are,
below the crownshaft, and velvety, with a few spikes.
I. wallichiana
Distributed throughout Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo.
Closely related to I. geonomaeformis
except the
inflorescence always has several widely diverging spikes.
There is no crownshaft.
In his study of Malaysian Iguanura T.C. Whitmore describes
the following forms, many of which appear to be a series of
integrating forms of I. geonomaeformis
,
I. wallichiana
, or I. polymorpha
.
I. arakudensis
may be a form of
I. polymorpha
with short leaves.
I. bicornis
The leaves are with fishtail leaflets, a distinct crownshaft,
and a peculiar seed broadening from a narrow base to a wide,
two horned tip.
I. brevipes
Is different from I. polymorpha
by the absence of a
crownshaft.
I. corniculata
Is similar to
I. polymorpha
, but the fruits are horn
like, strongly curved, and 2.5c m long.
I. spectabilis
This is the showiest of all the
I. wallichiana
group.
The single stem grows to 2m with big entire leaves 120cm long
that are bronzy pink when young.
I. fusa
Another of the I. wallichiana
extreme
forms. The big leaves are finely divided.
I. parvula
A form with small entire leaves.
In Borneo the following species have been described. Other
species are known, however descriptions appear scant.
I. elegans
A delightful little palm with an entire leaf, elongated.
I. melinauensis
I. palmuncula
var. palrnuncula var. rnagna
Pinnate palms with peculiar, flat five crested seeds.
I. sanderiana
Another Iguanura
with a reduplicate form of leaf.
For many years Iguanura
had a reputation of being
somewhat difficult to cultivate. Being essentially equatorial
inhabitants of low to moderate altitudes, it is obvious that
they require special care. Bottom heat for successful seed
germination during the winter months would be an advantage in
the sub-tropics. Young seedlings require light, a well
drained medium, warmth, and plenty of moisture; basically the
same treatment as Pinanga Even the youngest seedlings are
very attractive with their round bifid primary leaves,
slightly serrated edges, and a pink colour upon opening.
I obtained my first Iguanura
in 1980 while still
living in Sydney. The tiny, rather weak seedling travelled
with me to Cairns where it strengthened and recovered rapidly.
This was one of those very lucky acquisitions. The very small
plant has grown into a beautiful, much admired, wide bifid
leaved palm which is now the pride of my collection. After 8
years the plant itself is only 1. 2 to 1.5 m tall with three
strong stems. New leaves are bronzy pink on opening measuring
30cm wide and 60cm long. The plant is just forming its first
inflorescence, and I am hopeful that it will flower, and
eventually set seeds.
During the last few years I have raised a number of
Iguanura
plants. The seeds lose their viability fairly
quickly, however fresh seed will germinate within weeks.
Seedlings grow fairly rapidly and should have three or four
leaves within six months of germination.
In the wild, Iguanura
keep their spent, dead
leaves on the trunk for a long time, giving an untidy
appearance. This is most likely the reason that they have
been neglected by seed collectors for such a long time.
However in cultivation, with a little care, they will grow
into showy, compact plants which will be the crown jewels of
every palm collection.
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