Dypsis ambositrae - odd splitting

[MattyB]

The original stem of this Dypsis ambostirae, shown on left, did something weird. The last leaf came up with no petiole groove and no hole for another leaf to exit from. It was just like a crownshaft that was sealed off. It just sat there for the last year when finally a new spear pushed up along side the original growing point, which you can now see that secondary growing point on the right. I got curious so I took a razor knife and cut into the old growing point just to see what was in that sealed off cavity. As you can see, it's hollow with no sign of any new spear emerging. There's a second, and separate, D. ambo planted just behind this one, in the same hole as you can see by the pics. That second plant has remained a single stem and has grown faster than this splitter. I don't know that it's actually splitting or just aborting the original growing point. Anyone else have this happen?

[DippyD]

Your going to have yourself a palm like steveos

[richnorm]

This one split by throwing up two spears. I had one throw up a wierd leaf with a super long petiole then another leaf fused to it.

[DoomsDave]

I've had D. decipiens do that, too.

(They all died . . . . after planting in the Death Camp of Doom . . . )

[MattyB]

Your going to have yourself a palm like steveos

I doubt it. I don't think that it's forming any above ground trunk yet, so any branch at this point will be subsurface....I think.

[pogobob]

That's what happens when you stare at them too much! They get weird vibes and freekout

[Adam from Oz]

I've had D. decipiens do that, too.

(They all died . . . . after planting in the Death Camp of Doom . . . )

Sorry to hijack your thread, MB, but Dave, why did all your decipens cark?

Cheers,

Adam

[edric]

Sure are a couple nice looking trees Matty, Ed

[DoomsDave]

I've had D. decipiens do that, too.

(They all died . . . . after planting in the Death Camp of Doom . . . )

Sorry to hijack your thread, MB, but Dave, why did all your decipens cark?

Cheers,

Adam

Planted too deep, I think.

[hanapalms]

If the sealed cavity had no growing point, then I think your palm took a side track. Just a guess, I have that happen with some species of Pritchardia quite often when the growing point is obstructed by disease or damage. But some Dypsis do split, so that's a chance too.

[Mandrew968]

"I got curious so I took a razor knife and cut- Anyone else have this happen?" nope.

Paul--I beat you to this one! haha

[BS Man about Palms]

Same thing my Rhopy baeuri did before it died

[MattyB]

awwww, that sucks

[Pedro 65]

Matty, those first 4 pics look like Brevinoides to me? which this splitting behaviour is very normal, nothing to worry about, some split more than others and some dont split.

[Walter John]

Very odd Matty, I would expect some action still on the first stem, yes, very strange and most interesting. Hopefully it will be a double headed version, one for the scrap books what ? One of my Dypsis pembanas has split into a double header, full report on the six thirty local news channel.

Maybe if the gophers saw you flailing that knife around they might scaboose..

[Walter John]

Not Banana split, it's Pembana split. A series of pics to show the beginnings of a double headed Dypsis. This palm has been in good spirits, decent green, growing tall, clumping, unfortunately, I would like a solitary version of this palm. etc.

So why does this splitting occur ? Should I feel guilty ?

[Moose]

What is the current disposition of your palm ?

[sonoranfans]

I have also, like Wal had a pembana split. Mine occurred after a spear pull, but retained both growing points. It was very slow at first recovering, and then the second growing point came out real curly, then straightened. It looks better now than with one growing point. Both growing points are pushing healthy spears.

[MattyB]

Moose, it ended up abandoning that growing point. You can see it in the pic. These are 12' to the top leaves now.

Pedro, yes they look a lot like the brevinoides, but they have red fuzz and red petioles. True ambo? Not sure anymore.