Marojejya insignis

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Figure 1. M. insignis at the Tsimbazaza Zoo, Antananarivo.

Distribution & Habitat:

Found in lowland to mid-altitude rainforest all along the east coast of Madagascar.

Conservation Status:

[www.iucnredlist.org/searchdetails.php/38606/summ Threatened] Despite being widely distributed, the total number of palms is relatively small, and it is cut down by the locals for its palm heart.

Description:

A very attractive, medium to large solitary, pinnate, litter trapping palm to 8m tall, with up to 20 4-5m long leaves held in a "shuttlecock" type arrangement.

General:

Insignis is latin for outstanding or remarkable.

Culture:

Lightly shaded, moist but well drained position. Apparantly not quite as moisture loving as its sibling M. darianii. Requires at least warm sub-tropical conditions.

Figure 2. M. insignis inflorescence.

Contributed by:

Jack Sayers (Figure 1&2)

External Links:

Kew, PalmWeb, IUCN, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr, PalmTalk