Dictyosperma album
(Bory) H. Wendl. & Drude ex Scheff.
Princess palm, Hurricane palm, Red palm
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Summary
Source: WikipediaDictyosperma album is a fast-growing evergreen palm tree reaching 15 m tall by 8 m wide, hardy to UK zone 10. Single-stemmed structure precludes sideshoot formation. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with preference for well-drained conditions and neutral to basic pH; tolerates saline soils and maritime exposure. Grows in semi-shade or full sun with preference for moist soil.
Description
It is a tall slender palm. It has a dark grey, ringed trunk. It grows 10-20 m high. The trunk is expanded at the base. The trunk is 10 cm across. The crown-shaft is bright green, whitish or red. It is often softly woolly. The fronds can be 3 m long. The fronds have leaflets along the stalk. They are often reddish when young. The youngest developing frond stands erect. The leaflets taper to a point. They bare often divided into 2 thin points. The flowering stalk arises below the crown-shaft. It is 40-100 cm long with many branches. The flowers are large and fragrant. They are cream or reddish. The flowers are in groups of 3 with one female between 2 male flowers. The fruit are oval and purplish-black. They are 16-18 mm long and 8-10 mm across. They occur in large clusters. Some named varieties occur.
Edible Uses
Cooked leaves are edible. The apical bud is highly valued as food; however, the single-stemmed growth habit means harvesting the apical bud kills the plant.
Traditional Uses
The palm heart is eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
Root decoction functions as a diuretic.
Distribution
It grows in tropical and subtropical places. It is cold sensitive. It can tolerate salt-laden winds. It needs well drained rich soil. It needs a warm sunny position. It cannot tolerate drought. It grows in lowlands and up to 600 m above sea level. In Cairns Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.
Where It Grows
Africa, Australia, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Guam, Hawaii, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, Mauritius*, North America, Pacific, Reunion, USA, West Indies,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinate in 2-3 months.
Propagation
Seed: Sow fresh seed for germination within 60-120 days.
Other Uses
Other Uses: None known Special Uses Food Forest
Other Information
It is cultivated in Mauritius for palm hearts.
Notes
There is only one Dictyosperma species. This plant is almost extinct in the wild.
Synonyms
References (19)
- Ann. Gard. Bot. Buitenzorg 1:157. 1876 "alba"
- Balick, M.J. and Beck, H.T., (Ed.), 1990, Useful palms of the World. A Synoptic Bibliography. Colombia p 105, 121 (As Dictyosperma album),
- Blomberry, A. & Rodd, T., 1982, Palms. An informative practical guide. Angus & Robertson. p 95
- Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 341
- Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 365
Show all 19 references Hide references
- Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 498
- Davis, S.D., Heywood, V.H., & Hamilton, A.C. (eds), 1994, Centres of plant Diversity. WWF. Vol 1. p 285
- Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 261
- Gibbons, M., 2003, A pocket guide to Palms. Chartwell Books. p 99
- Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 284
- Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 86
- Jones, D.L., 1994, Palms throughout the World. Smithtonian Institution, Washington. p 208
- Jones, D.L., 2000, Palms of Australia 3rd edition. Reed/New Holland. p 154
- Llamas, K.A., 2003, Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press. p 103
- Marinelli, J. (Ed), 2004, Plant. DK. p 369 (As Dictyosperma album)
- Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 210
- Riffle, R.L. & Craft, P., 2003, An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Timber Press. p 323
- Staples, G.W. and Herbst, D.R., 2005, A tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. p 621 (As Dictyosperma album)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
