Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
(Wendl.) Wendl. & Drude
Bangalow palm, Piccabeen palm
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Summary
Source: WikipediaArchontophoenix cunninghamiana – commonly known as Bangalow palm, king palm, Illawarra palm or piccabeen palm – is a tree in the palm family Arecaceae, which is endemic to the east coast of New South Wales and Queensland, Australia.
Description
A tall single stemmed feather leafed palm. It has a bright green to rusty brown crown shaft formed by the leaf sheaths. This is 1 m long. The fronds are long and curved and form an umbrella shaped crown. The trunk is brown to grey. It grows to 25 m tall and is 30 cm across. It has rings of leaf scars along the trunk. The leaves are 2-4 m long and divided into drooping leaflets along its length. The leaflets are 60-100 cm long and 5-10 cm wide. They have long pointed tips. The leaf stalk twists along its length making the end fronds vertical. The flowering stalk is large and branched. It is 40-90 cm long. Several flowering stalks are often present at the same time. Two large papery bracts which are thin and pointed enclose the flowers but fall before flowers open. The flowers are pink, stalk-less and 1 cm across. Male and female flowers are on the same stalk. They are in spiral arrangements of irregular groups of 3. The fruit are orange red when ripe. They are 10-15 mm across.
Edible Uses
The young shoots emerging from the ground and the palm heart can be eaten raw, though harvesting the shoots kills the palm and is not normally undertaken.
Traditional Uses
The young shoots just coming out of the ground can be eaten raw. As this kills the palm it is not normally useful.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a warm temperate and subtropical plant. It grows along stream banks. In northern Australia it grows from sea level to 700 m altitude. They require well-drained soil. They need high humidity. It suits hardiness zones 10-11. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens.
Where It Grows
Africa, Australia, Brazil, East Africa, Pacific, South America, Tasmania, USA, Zimbabwe,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from fresh seed. Seed germinate within 6 months. Seedlings do not transplant easily.
Production
Seedlings grow quickly.
Notes
There are 6 Archontophoenix species.
Synonyms
References (33)
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- Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 67
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