Archontophoenix alexandrae

(F. Muell.) H. Wendl. & Drude

Alexander palm, Alexandra Palm, King palm

Arecaceae 2,340 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Archontophoenix alexandrae, commonly known as Alexandra palm, king palm, northern Bangalow palm, or feather palm, is a palm endemic to Queensland, Australia. It was named in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, but is often erroneously referred to by the misnomer Alexander palm.

Description

A tall slender palm with a single grey trunk reaching up to 30 m tall and 25 cm across, swollen at the base with leaf scars. It has feather-like fronds 2-3 m long with drooping silvery grey leaflets, and produces small cream-colored flowers followed by green fruits that turn red when ripe.

Edible Uses

The young terminal bud or heart can be eaten raw, though harvesting it kills the palm and is not normally practiced. The ripe red fruits can be cooked and eaten after processing.

Traditional Uses

The young bud or cabbage can be eaten raw. As this would kill the palm it is not normally done. The fruit can be cooked and eaten. They need processing.

Where It Grows

Cabbage, Palm heart, Fruit,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from fresh seed. They germinate in 3 months. Seedlings transplant easily. Seed germination is increased by soaking in water for 24-72 hours. It is also further improved by treating for 72 hours with 100 or 1000 ppm of gibberellic acid.

Production

Seedlings grow quickly.

Other Information

Arecaceae

Notes

A tall slender palm. It has a single stem and feather like leaves. These fronds arch over and the drooping leaflets are silvery grey underneath. The trunk is grey and can be 30 m tall. It is 25 cm across. The trunk is swollen at the base and has rings of leaf scars on it. The leaves are 2-3 m long and 60-90 cm wide. The leaf stalk is smooth and has a sheathing base forming a 1 m long crown-shaft. The leaflets are 30-45 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. They are evenly and closely spaces and point forward. The central vein is yellow and raised on the upper surface. The flowering stalk is large and branched. The small branches hang downwards carrying flowers. The flowering stalk can be 40-80 cm long. It is immediately below the crown-shaft and it is yellow. The 2 large pale green pointed leaf-like bracts fall before the flowers open. The flowers have male and female flowers on the same stalk. They are cream and about 8 mm across. Fruit are green but turn red when ripe. They are oval and 10-15 mm long. They have a smooth waxy surface. They contain a single fibrous seed with a fleshy layer around it.

Synonyms

Ptychosperma alexandrae F. MuellerArchontophoenix alexandrae var. beatrice (F. Mueller) L.H. Bailey

Also Known As

Bira mundtha, Palem aleksander

References (37)

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