Archontophoenix alexandrae

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Archontophoenix alexandrae

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Least Concern (NCA)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Archontophoenix
Species:
A. alexandrae
Binomial name
Archontophoenix alexandrae
Synonyms[3]
  • Archontophoenix alexandrae var. beatriceae (F.Muell.) C.T.White
  • Archontophoenix alexandrae var. schizanthera H.Wendl. & Drude
  • Jessenia glazioviana Dammer
  • Ptychosperma alexandrae F.Muell.
  • Ptychosperma beatriceae F.Muell.
  • Ptychosperma drudei H.Wendl. ex Benth. & Hook.f.
  • Saguaster drudei (H.Wendl. ex Benth. & Hook.f.) Kuntze

Archontophoenix alexandrae, commonly known as Alexandra palm, king palm, northern Bangalow palm, or feather palm,

endemic to Queensland, Australia. It was named in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark,[7] but is often erroneously referred to by the misnomer
Alexander palm.

Description

Archontophoenix alexandrae is a tall, solitary palm growing to a height of 30 m (98 ft) with a trunk up to 30 cm (12 in) diameter, often swollen at the base, and bearing prominent leaf scars.

pinnate, feather-like fronds that measure up to 4.5 m (15 ft) in length, with 60 to 80 leaflets on each side of the midrib.[4][7] The pinnae are dark green above and silvery-grey underneath, measuring up to 75 cm (30 in) long, and the entire frond is usually twisted laterally.[4][5] At the base of each frond is a large crownshaft up to 1 m (3.3 ft) high, coloured light green.[4]

Flowers

Alexandra palm with a number of inflorescences in various stages of development

The

pistillate (functionally female) flowers up to 4 mm (0.16 in).[4]

Fruit

The fruits are ovoid to globose with a persistent calyx. They are initially green turning bright red when ripe. They measure around 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) in diameter and contain a single seed about 8 mm (0.3 in) diameter.[4][7]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described as Ptychosperma alexandrae by Ferdinand von Mueller in his Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae in 1865.[8] In 1875 the German botanists Hermann Wendland and Oscar Drude published a treatment of Australian palms in the journal Linnaea titled Palmae Australasicae, in which this species was renamed Archontophoenix alexandrae.[9]

Etymology

The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek ἄρχων (árkhōn), meaning "chieftain" or "ruler", combined with the palm genus Phoenix, and refers to the regal stature of the trees. The species epithet is given in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark.[7][10]

Distribution and habitat

Alexandra palms dominate the forest in the flood zone beside Freshwater Creek, Cairns, Queensland.

The native range of this species is north-east and central-east Queensland, from the Melville Range in Cape York Peninsula to south of Gladstone.[5][7] The altitudinal range is from sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft), although it is most commonly found in lowland riparian rainforest alongside river courses and swamps, often in locations that are severely inundated during heavy rain events.[4][7] Their ability to withstand these conditions allows them to become the dominant species.

Ecology

The fruit of the Alexandra palm is eaten by many bird species,

fruit bats and the musky rat-kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus).[7]

Uses

The Kuku Yalanji people of Far North Queensland ate the palm heart of this species.[11]

Cultivation

This species is easily grown from fresh seed, and is very popular in cultivation in Australia, both for private gardens and as a street and park tree.[4][12] It is fast growing and will tolerate cooler climates outside the tropics where there are no frosts, and has been widely planted in many countries. It has become naturalised in Hawaii.[13]

Gallery

  • Habitat
    Habitat
  • Flowering
    Flowering
  • Fruiting
    Fruiting
  • Fruit
    Fruit

See also

References

  1. . Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Species profile—Archontophoenix alexandrae (Alexandra palm)". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Archontophoenix alexandrae (F.Muell.) H.Wendl. & Drude". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. ^
    Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    (CSIRO). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Archontophoenix alexandrae". Palm and Cycad Society of Australia. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. Cairns Regional Council. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  7. ^ . Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Ptychosperma alexandrae F.Muell". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Archontophoenix alexandrae var. schizanthera H.Wendl. & Drude". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Archontophoenix H.Wendl. & Drude, Linnaea 39: 182 (1875)". PalmWeb. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  11. .
  12. .
  13. ^ "Archontophoenix alexandrae" (PDF). Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR). Retrieved 21 March 2021.

External links