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Beaucarnea recurvata (K.Koch & Fintelm.) Lem.
| Family Name: | Asparagaceae |
| Common Name: | Ponytail Palm, Elephant-foot Tree, Bottle Palm, 酒瓶兰 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Fountain (Palm-like) |
| Maximum Height | 1.8 m to 9 m |
| Tree or Palm – Trunk Diameter | 3 |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southeastern Mexico |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A tree with crown resembling ponytail and distinctive trunk with massively swollen base. Tree can grow up to 9 m tall and base up to 3.7 m wide. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Trunk is massively swollen at the base. Usually no branching when young, the trunk may develop slight branching as it matures. |
| Foliage | Leaves are green, thin and flat (up to 1.5 m long and 2.5 cm wide). They clustered in dense tufts at the tips of branches that arch upwards and droop downward, resembling a pony’s tail. Leaves have spiral arrangement, parallel venation and serrate margin. |
| Flowers | Flowers are creamy white and small, yet when borne in clusters appear to be large and showy. |
| Similar | B.recurvata differs from B.pliables by the latter having more basal branching and more erect inflorescence. |
| Taxonomy | The family name is Asparagaceae according to APGIII. It was formerly placed in Ruscaceae, Agavaceae, Dracaenaceae, and Nolinaceae. One synonym of this species is Nolina recurvata. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General |
| Thematic Landscaping | Rockery / Desert Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Thin |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Linear) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Root Type | Underground |
|---|---|
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Aboveground (Caudiciform (Basal Caudex)) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 975 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2269 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |