Difference between revisions of "Archontophoenix cunninghamiana"

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{{HelpWanted}}
 
{{HelpWanted}}
[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamiana.jpg|right|frame|Figure 1. ''A. cunninghamiana'' in natural habitat(Mt Tambourine, SE Queensland).]]
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[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamiana.jpg|right|frame|Figure 1. ''A. cunninghamiana'' in habitat - Mt Tambourine, SE Queensland.]]
 
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===Common Names:===
 
===Common Names:===
 
Bangalow Palm<br>
 
Bangalow Palm<br>
Piccabeen Palm<br>
+
Piccabeen Palm
 +
 
 
===Climate Zones:===
 
===Climate Zones:===
 
Sub tropical to tropical.
 
Sub tropical to tropical.
Line 15: Line 14:
 
[21&deg; 05'S] in Central Queensland. Confined to rainforest
 
[21&deg; 05'S] in Central Queensland. Confined to rainforest
 
or other moist forest from sea-level to 1000 m altitude.
 
or other moist forest from sea-level to 1000 m altitude.
 +
 +
[http://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Archontophoenix+cunninghamiana#tab_mapView '''Location map''']
  
 
===Description:===
 
===Description:===
This is a very similar palm to ''Archontophoenix alexandrae''
+
This is a very similar palm to ''[[Archontophoenix_alexandrae|Archontophoenix alexandrae]]''
 
in both appearance and size (it gets to about 25 metres
 
in both appearance and size (it gets to about 25 metres
 
(80 feet) tall with a spread of about 2 - 2.5 metres (10 - 15 feet)).
 
(80 feet) tall with a spread of about 2 - 2.5 metres (10 - 15 feet)).
  
The leaves, which have paler stalks, are bright green above and below, although there can also be brown scales underneath. They are much heavier looking than ''A. alexandrae'', and consequntly are more likely to be damaged by heavy winds. Thus they are often better suited to more sheltered areas, while ''A. alexandrae'' can take more exposed positions.
+
The leaves, which have paler stalks, are bright green above and below, although there can also be brown scales underneath. They are much heavier looking than ''A. alexandrae'', and consequently are more likely to be damaged by heavy winds. Thus they are often better suited to more sheltered areas, while ''A. alexandrae'' can take more exposed positions.
  
The base of the petioles form a greenish-yellow to brown crownshaft that the leaves rarely droop below. The trunk is smooth and ringed with noticible leaf scars, although thinner and with more widely spaced rings than ''A. alexandrae''. It can get to about 1/3 metre (one foot) in diameter.
+
The base of the petioles form a greenish-yellow to brown crown-shaft that the leaves rarely droop below. The trunk is smooth and ringed with noticeable leaf scars, although thinner and with more widely spaced rings than ''A. alexandrae''. It can get to about 1/3 metre (one foot) in diameter.
Flowers are formed below the crownshaft with the creamy flower stalks holding mauve flowers. The round green fruit, about 12 mm (1/2 inch) in diameter, turn bright red at maturity. There is often a noticible bulge in the crownshaft before the flowers emerge which gives the tree a "pregnant" look.
+
Flowers are formed below the crown-shaft with the creamy flower stalks holding mauve flowers. The round green fruit, about 12 mm (1/2 inch) in diameter, turn bright red at maturity. There is often a noticeable bulge in the crown-shaft before the flowers emerge which gives the tree a "pregnant" look.
 
Palm to 30 m tall, trunk to 30 cm in diameter, usually not
 
Palm to 30 m tall, trunk to 30 cm in diameter, usually not
 
greatly expanded at the base. The leaves are 4-4.5 m long
 
greatly expanded at the base. The leaves are 4-4.5 m long
 
and have the pinnae orientated in a vertical plane toward the
 
and have the pinnae orientated in a vertical plane toward the
leaf apex; the crownshaft is dark green, red to purple; the
+
leaf apex; the crown-shaft is dark green, red to purple; the
 
pinnae tend to become lax with age due to the lack of strong
 
pinnae tend to become lax with age due to the lack of strong
 
secondary ribs. Pinnae are green beneath with ramenta to
 
secondary ribs. Pinnae are green beneath with ramenta to
about 5 cm long on the midrib below. lnflorescence branches
+
about 5 cm long on the midrib below. Inflorescence branches
 
are white/cream; the rachillae pendulous. Flowers are
 
are white/cream; the rachillae pendulous. Flowers are
 
lilac/purple. Staminate flowers have 9-18 stamens and the
 
lilac/purple. Staminate flowers have 9-18 stamens and the
filaments are defiexed. Fruit is bright red at maturity,
+
filaments are deflexed. Fruit is bright red at maturity,
 
10-15 cm long. Fibres in the mesocarp are thick, flat and
 
10-15 cm long. Fibres in the mesocarp are thick, flat and
 
usually loosen in the dried state.
 
usually loosen in the dried state.
 +
[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamiana1.jpg|left|frame|Figure 2. Another Bangalow in natural habitat.]]
 +
[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamiana2-01.jpg|right|frame|Figure 3. Forest of Bangalows at Mt. Mee, south-east
 +
Queensland.]]
 +
<br clear=all>
 +
 
===Notes: ===
 
===Notes: ===
 
There is considerable variation in the colour of the
 
There is considerable variation in the colour of the
crownshaft and the thickness of the lamina in the bangalow
+
crown-shaft and the thickness of the lamina in the bangalow
 
palm. Interestingly, variation merges in adjacent populations
 
palm. Interestingly, variation merges in adjacent populations
 
and demarcation of potential varieties or even species has
 
and demarcation of potential varieties or even species has
 
been impossible to determine. New leaves of the bangalow palm
 
been impossible to determine. New leaves of the bangalow palm
 
are often in pink/red tones. The name bangalow is aboriginal
 
are often in pink/red tones. The name bangalow is aboriginal
for 'water carrying basket'; the crownshaft can be fashioned,
+
for 'water carrying basket'; the crown-shaft can be fashioned,
 
with a few deft folds and tucks into a watertight vessel, the
 
with a few deft folds and tucks into a watertight vessel, the
 
petiole used as the handle.
 
petiole used as the handle.
 +
 
===General:===
 
===General:===
 
These are also very popular palms in Australia, and more cold-tolerant than ''A. alexandrae''.
 
These are also very popular palms in Australia, and more cold-tolerant than ''A. alexandrae''.
 +
 
===Culture:===
 
===Culture:===
 
These palms can be grown in full sun (if the water is kept up to them), or in the shade. They do like more water than most palms, with some even thriving in poorly drained areas. In their native habitat, they can often be seen growing next to and even in creek beds. It is quite a fast grower, averaging about 1/3 - 1 metre (1-3 feet) per year. In southern NSW (Nowra) it takes about 20 years for plants to mature and produce seed.  Plants in deep shade within rainforest have significantly reduced growth rates. The seeds are eaten and dispersed by Topknot pigeons. Seedlings are eaten by Swamp Wallaby and Wombats.
 
These palms can be grown in full sun (if the water is kept up to them), or in the shade. They do like more water than most palms, with some even thriving in poorly drained areas. In their native habitat, they can often be seen growing next to and even in creek beds. It is quite a fast grower, averaging about 1/3 - 1 metre (1-3 feet) per year. In southern NSW (Nowra) it takes about 20 years for plants to mature and produce seed.  Plants in deep shade within rainforest have significantly reduced growth rates. The seeds are eaten and dispersed by Topknot pigeons. Seedlings are eaten by Swamp Wallaby and Wombats.
[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamiana2-01.jpg|right|frame|Figure 2. Another Bangalow in natural habitat.Figure 3. Forest of Bangalows at Mt. Mee, south-east Queensland.]]
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===
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[[File:Archonto._cunning__inflor.jpg|left|frame|Figure 4. ''A. cunninghamiana'' inflorescence]]
. cunninghamiana in habitat,
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<br clear=all>
Mt Tambourine, SE Queensland===
+
 
[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamianaB.jpg|left|frame|Figure 1. ''A. cunninghamiana'' with tree ferns.]]
+
===A. cunninghamiana in habitat, Mt Tambourine, SE Queensland===
[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamianaB02.jpg|right|frame|Figure 2. ''A. cunninghamiana'']]
+
[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamianaB.jpg|left|frame|Figure 5. ''A. cunninghamiana'' with tree ferns.]]
[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamianaB03.jpg|left|frame|Figure 3. ''A. cunninghamiana'' with seeds]]
+
[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamianaB02.jpg|right|frame|Figure 6. ''A. cunninghamiana'']]
 +
[[File:Archontophoenix_cunninghamianaB03.jpg|left|frame|Figure 7. ''A. cunninghamiana'' with seeds]]
 
<br clear=all>
 
<br clear=all>
 
===Contributed by: ===
 
===Contributed by: ===
 
Michael Gray<br>
 
Michael Gray<br>
 
Daryl O'Connor (Figure 1&2)<br>
 
Daryl O'Connor (Figure 1&2)<br>
 +
Ian Edwards (Figure 4)<br>
 
Garry Daly
 
Garry Daly
 +
 
<!--===Gallery: ===
 
<!--===Gallery: ===
 
<gallery perrow="4" widths="200px" heights="200px">
 
<gallery perrow="4" widths="200px" heights="200px">

Latest revision as of 13:59, 26 April 2014

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Figure 1. A. cunninghamiana in habitat - Mt Tambourine, SE Queensland.

Contents

Common Names:

Bangalow Palm
Piccabeen Palm

Climate Zones:

Sub tropical to tropical.

Distribution & Habitat:

Rainforests of central eastern Australian coast. East coast of Australia from Durras Mountain in southern New South Wales [35° 10'S] to Eungella Range near Mackay [21° 05'S] in Central Queensland. Confined to rainforest or other moist forest from sea-level to 1000 m altitude.

Location map

Description:

This is a very similar palm to Archontophoenix alexandrae in both appearance and size (it gets to about 25 metres (80 feet) tall with a spread of about 2 - 2.5 metres (10 - 15 feet)).

The leaves, which have paler stalks, are bright green above and below, although there can also be brown scales underneath. They are much heavier looking than A. alexandrae, and consequently are more likely to be damaged by heavy winds. Thus they are often better suited to more sheltered areas, while A. alexandrae can take more exposed positions.

The base of the petioles form a greenish-yellow to brown crown-shaft that the leaves rarely droop below. The trunk is smooth and ringed with noticeable leaf scars, although thinner and with more widely spaced rings than A. alexandrae. It can get to about 1/3 metre (one foot) in diameter. Flowers are formed below the crown-shaft with the creamy flower stalks holding mauve flowers. The round green fruit, about 12 mm (1/2 inch) in diameter, turn bright red at maturity. There is often a noticeable bulge in the crown-shaft before the flowers emerge which gives the tree a "pregnant" look. Palm to 30 m tall, trunk to 30 cm in diameter, usually not greatly expanded at the base. The leaves are 4-4.5 m long and have the pinnae orientated in a vertical plane toward the leaf apex; the crown-shaft is dark green, red to purple; the pinnae tend to become lax with age due to the lack of strong secondary ribs. Pinnae are green beneath with ramenta to about 5 cm long on the midrib below. Inflorescence branches are white/cream; the rachillae pendulous. Flowers are lilac/purple. Staminate flowers have 9-18 stamens and the filaments are deflexed. Fruit is bright red at maturity, 10-15 cm long. Fibres in the mesocarp are thick, flat and usually loosen in the dried state.

Figure 2. Another Bangalow in natural habitat.
Figure 3. Forest of Bangalows at Mt. Mee, south-east Queensland.


Notes:

There is considerable variation in the colour of the crown-shaft and the thickness of the lamina in the bangalow palm. Interestingly, variation merges in adjacent populations and demarcation of potential varieties or even species has been impossible to determine. New leaves of the bangalow palm are often in pink/red tones. The name bangalow is aboriginal for 'water carrying basket'; the crown-shaft can be fashioned, with a few deft folds and tucks into a watertight vessel, the petiole used as the handle.

General:

These are also very popular palms in Australia, and more cold-tolerant than A. alexandrae.

Culture:

These palms can be grown in full sun (if the water is kept up to them), or in the shade. They do like more water than most palms, with some even thriving in poorly drained areas. In their native habitat, they can often be seen growing next to and even in creek beds. It is quite a fast grower, averaging about 1/3 - 1 metre (1-3 feet) per year. In southern NSW (Nowra) it takes about 20 years for plants to mature and produce seed. Plants in deep shade within rainforest have significantly reduced growth rates. The seeds are eaten and dispersed by Topknot pigeons. Seedlings are eaten by Swamp Wallaby and Wombats.

Figure 4. A. cunninghamiana inflorescence


A. cunninghamiana in habitat, Mt Tambourine, SE Queensland

Figure 5. A. cunninghamiana with tree ferns.
Figure 6. A. cunninghamiana
Figure 7. A. cunninghamiana with seeds


Contributed by:

Michael Gray
Daryl O'Connor (Figure 1&2)
Ian Edwards (Figure 4)
Garry Daly


External Links:

Kew, PalmWeb, JSTOR, Trebrown, ATRP

Google, Google Images, Flickr, PACSOA Forums, PalmTalk