Pritchardia thurstonii
F. v. Mueller & Drude
Lauan fan palm
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(c) Debra Baker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Debra Baker
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Debra Baker, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Summary
Source: WikipediaPritchardia thurstonii is a species of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae. It is native to Fiji, in particular the Lau Islands, and the island of ʻEua in Tonga. It is vulnerable and threatened by habitat loss. It is sometimes known as the Thurston's palm or the Lau fan palm and is named after a former Fijian Governor John Bates Thurston.
Description
A medium sized palm. It grows to 10 m tall. The trunk is 20 cm across. It has vertical cracks. The trunk is brown and ringed. It has a large crown. The leaf stalks are 1 m long and the leaf blade is 1 m across. They are fan shaped. The leaves are light green, stiff and pleated. The flowering stalk is long and hangs well clear of the leaves. It is 2 m long. It extends beyond the leaves. Only a single flowering branch occurs in a stalk. The flowering stalk extends well out beyond the leaves. The fruit are small and round. They are dark red when ripe. They are 6-7 mm across.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It suits coastal locations. It grows in hot, dry places on coral and limestone soils in Fiji. It can tolerate salt laden winds. They need very good drainage. They will not grow on clay soils. It does best in full sun. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Townsville Queens garden.
Where It Grows
Australia, Fiji*, Hawaii, Pacific, USA,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinate readily.
Production
It is slow growing.
Notes
There are about 40 Pritchardia species.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Viu, Masai
References (9)
- Blomberry, A. & Rodd, T., 1982, Palms. An informative practical guide. Angus & Robertson. p 151
- Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1085
- Gartenflora 36:486, t. 123-124, fig. 1-8. 1887
- Jones, D.L., 1994, Palms throughout the World. Smithtonian Institution, Washington. p 316
- Marinelli, J. (Ed), 2004, Plant. DK. p 377
Show all 9 references Hide references
- Riffle, R.L. & Craft, P., 2003, An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Timber Press. p 422
- Smith, A.C., 1979, Flora Vitiensis Nova, Lawaii, Kuai, Hawaii, Volume 1 p 398
- Staples, G.W. and Herbst, D.R., 2005, A tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. p 626
- Watling, D., 2005, Palms of the Fiji Islands. Environmental Consultants (Fiji) Ltd. p 126, 168
