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Hyophorbe lagenicaulis
| Family Name: | Arecaceae (Palmae) |
| Synonyms: | Mascarena revaughnii, Mascarena lagenicaulis |
| Common Name: | Bottle Palm, Champagne Bottle Palm, 酒瓶椰子 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Palm (Solitary Habit) |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 4.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Mascarene Islands |
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Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | An unusual but intriguing, solitary, dainty, slow-growing palm with a large swollen trunkbase, which tapers upards to the attractive crownshaft, resembling a bottle, topped with a sparse, delightful crown of ascending to spreading, bright green, feathery fronds. |
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| Trunk | Trunk grey, ringed with visible old leaf scars, up to 60 to 70 cm in diameter, with a bulge at the base, crownshaft smooth, green. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Foliage Fronds pinnate (feather-shaped), mildly recurving, ascending to spreading, upwardly arching, 4 to 6; leaflets stiff, narrow, up to 140, each about 0.6 m long. Flower: Inflorescences branched, cream, horn-like, about 75 cm long, arising from below the crownshaft. Fruit: Fruits oblong, ripening from green to orange to black, about 3 cm long. |
| Cultivation | Prefers suntrap location, but will also do fairly well under partial shade conditions. Moist but well-drained soils are its preferences but is adaptable to many soil types. It is fairly salt tolerant but best not to let soil dry out. Propagate by seeds, which germinates in 4 to 6 months. |
| Etymology | The genus epithet 'Hyophorbe' comes from the Greek hys, 'a pig', phorbe, in reference to the fruit being eaten by pigs. Its species epithet 'lagenicaulis' means 'with a flask-shaped stem' in Latin, in reference to its stem. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
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| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Palm - Solitary) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Palm) | Solitary Habit, Aboveground |
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Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
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Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1338 |
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| Species ID | 2631 |
| 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. |