nikau picture for Alberto, and cold Queens

[Bennz]

Alberto, here is a picture from a friend of the parent tree of that first handful of nikau seed I sent you a month or two back. Not the greatest specimen of Rhopalostylis sapida, but it is in an area where there is little heat, and frost down to -5C or so every year, so it should thrive in your better conditions.

Anyone got ideas on how old the Queens might be, given their cool growing area (Palmerston North NZ)?

[tim_brissy_13]

Ben, what's the palm in the foreground?  I'm sure those nikaus and queens would be very old, not sure how old.

[nomolos]

(tim_brissy_13 @ Apr. 24 2007,22:49)

QUOTE

Ben, what's the palm in the foreground?  I'm sure those nikaus and queens would be very old, not sure how old.

looks a bit like a kentia

[Palmy]

Looks like a kentia, but it cant be. Check out that crown shaft. At least I think its a crownshaft. It somewhat looks like a disfigured king? Does have a trunk like a kentia though.

[Caryota_gigas]

Most likely a Bangalow (A. cunninghamiana), just bad light on the trunk.

As for the Queens, they must be older than 40 years I would think?

[deezpalms]

With a bit of adjustment it does look just like a king. (A. cunninghamiana)

[Caryota_gigas]

Another reason why I hate 'common names' for Palms. Over here a 'King' is Archontophoenix alexandrae and A. cunninghamiana is a 'Bangalow'. Anyhow the Palm in the pic, and due to its location, will be A. cunninghamiana, which is soon to become a weed over here if the council gets their way.

[Bennz]

Yes an Archontophoenix, but a very bad specimen! Not often that ugly. I've noticed that Queens usually need warm sumers, these are about the southernmost I know of at this size.

[Palmy]

(Caryota_gigas @ Apr. 25 2007,18:08)

QUOTE

Another reason why I hate 'common names' for Palms. Over here a 'King' is Archontophoenix alexandrae and A. cunninghamiana is a 'Bangalow'. Anyhow the Palm in the pic, and due to its location, will be A. cunninghamiana, which is soon to become a weed over here if the council gets their way.

Excuse my ignorance. I still have a lot to learn, and I know its a A cunninghamia. I dont exactly know how to spell 80% of common name species using the scientific name. I will try to do this from now on. I understand how common names can get mixed up. Perhaps I should come out of the closet, the whole spelling closet that is, and make some effort to spell the scientific name.

[Alberto]

Hi Ben!

 I missed this topic...Thank you for this pic!! I hope that in some years I´ll also have both palms growing togeteher,our native queen with that hardier(?)nikau!!!

 I noted that the queens doesn´t show much fronds and most are upright like a nikau. It must be the effect of the lack of warmth...

  Thank you very much! Muito obrigado!