Beccariophoenix alfredii
Beccariophoenix alfredii
Beccariophoenix alfredii is only in 2007 first described a type of palm family ( Arecaceae ), which is found only in Madagascar. It belongs to the genus Beccariophoenix. Beccariophoenix alfredii the appearance of the coconut palm is very similar; although somewhat tolerant of cold, she looks like a double of the coconut tree in cooler climates.
Description
Beccariophoenix alfredii reaches up to 15 m in height with a trunk up to 30 cm diameters. The trunk is smooth except for the annular leaf scars and not reinforced. He wears 30-36 pinnate leaves that are up to 4.5 m long and have about 120 pairs of leaflets. The leaflet at the base of the leaf are equipped with 47 cm length and 1 cm width at the smallest, in the center of the leaf they reach 112 cm in length and 4 cm width at the tip of the blade 65 cm length of 1.8 cm width. While in young specimens the dead leaves still attached to the trunk for a while, they dissolve in older specimens rapidly.
The inflorescence is one, between the leaves. He is surrounded by a 90 cm long, leathery cover page, the ruptures along and falls; the fallen, drying up bracteoles roll up. The peduncle is 8 to 13 cm in length quite short, the inflorescence axis is 8-9 cm long and carries 30 to 50 -eared part inflorescences. The partial inflorescences are not occupied in the bottom quarter with flowers, occupied in the following quarter with triplets from a female and a male flower, from the center with groups of two pure male flowers and busy in the last quarter with individual male flowers. The fruits are blackish purple at maturity, with a size of 1.6 × 2.4 cm. They contain a single, flattened - rounded seeds.
Location and distribution
Beccariophoenix alfredii occurs in about 20 degrees south in the highlands of Madagascar. The palm tree is to be found at an altitude of 1050 m and grows along sandy river beds. The annual rainfall is less than 1500 mm, the dry season lasts about five months. The surrounding vegetation is mainly determined by different grasses, in the area itself it burns sometimes. Beccariophoenix alfredii forming gallery forests along small streams and is within this grove, the dominant plant species.
Systematics and botanical history
The species was first mentioned in 2002, when Alfred Razafindratsira an image of a Beccariophoenix - type, which was recorded in the area of Andrembesoa saw. The hitherto known records of Beccariophoenix on the east coast of Madagascar are far away and are ecologically quite different. In May 2004, the existence of this population could be confirmed on an expedition in the highlands of Madagascar.
This type differs from Beccariophoenix madagascariensis by the flattened instead of ovoid fruit, through the green inflorescence between the sheets (rather than below ), a peduncle not longer than 13 cm ( in contrast to the length of up to 120 cm), a 3-5 mm thick leathery spathe, which is rolled up after it drops ( in contrast to a woody spathe of 30-40 mm thickness, which does not deform when it falls ) and 15 stamens (as opposed to 18-21). Because of these differences Beccariophoenix alfredii was classified as a new species. The type Beccariophoenix alfredii is recognized by Kew.
Cultivation
Because of their general resistance Beccariophoenix alfredii is a good candidate for planting in Central and South Florida and California, but also in areas such as Sydney (Australia), Spain, Portugal and the north of New Zealand. It grows best in sandy- loamy substrate, but it is also suitable for many other substrates. Compared to Beccariophoenix alfredii it grows quickly and is quite tolerant of cold.