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Latania verschaffeltii
| Family Name: | Arecaceae (Palmae) |
| Synonyms: | Latania aurea |
| Common Name: | Yellow Latan Palm, 黃金棕櫚 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
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| Plant Growth Form | Palm (Solitary Habit) |
| Maximum Height | 11 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Mascarene Island (Rodrigues) |
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| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is palm with a single trunk, up to 11 m tall, and swollen at the base. Trunk bears elliptic leaf scars. |
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| Foliage | Leaf is fan shaped (costapalmate), about 1.8 – 2.4 m wide, and both surfaces are covered with whitish waxy texture, giving it a silvery appearance. The petiole can be 1.5 – 2.4 m long, spiny in juvenile plant and slowly becoming smooth with orange margin and densely hairy as the palm matures. |
| Flowers | Male inflorescence is about 1.2 – 2.4 m long with 5 – 10 branches, usually 1 – 3 spikes on each branch, while the female inflorescence is about 0.9 – 1.5 m long with 1 – 4 branches, usually with 1 spike on each branch. |
| Fruit | Fruit is drop-shaped (5 – 8 cm long and 2.5 – 3.8 cm wide) and ripens brown. |
| Cultivation | It is slightly susceptible to lethal yellowing disease. The palm can tolerant short period of drought. |
| Etymology | The epithet honors Belgian horticulturist, nurseryman and author Ambroise Verschaffelt (1825 – 1886). |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: Leaves are used as roof thatch and trunk are used to make fences. Fibers from the palm is harvested and twine together to make ropes. Sap is harvested to make an alcoholic drink called toddy. The young seeds and meristem are said to be edible |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens |
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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, Silver / Grey |
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| Foliar Shape(s) | Palm Fronds (Fan / Costapalmate) |
| 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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References
| References | Dransfield, J., Uhi, N.W., Asmussen, C.B., Baker, W.J., Harley, M.M. & Lewis, C.E. . 2008. Genera Palmarum. The Evolution and Classification of Palms. . United Kingdom: Kew Publishing. 732 Riffle, R.L., Craft, P. & Zona, S. . 2012. The Encyclopedia of cultivated palms. London: Timber Press. 517 |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1345 |
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| Species ID | 2638 |
| 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. |
