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"The Palms of Madagascar" and other great books


Mauna Kea Cloudforest

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I was looking around online for good information about palms of Madagascar and New Caledonia in order to try to better understand the type of soil and environment many of these palms grow in. But there just isn't very much information available. PalmPedia is good but there is often little cultural information listed there. (We really need to change that.)

So I went looking around for books, and came across three very interesting books. The first one is a 417 page "bible" written by John Dransfield that covers 171 species of palms : "The Palms of Madagascar".

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It's dated from the 1990's but it seems a lot more complete than the more recent book John authored "The Field Guide to Palms of Madagascar", the latter being only 171 pages and it has me highly suspicious that you can cover all the species within only 172 pages. But this is obviously more up to date (2006) and probably the better travel companion being it is a paperback.

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Has anyone read any of these? The big fat 417 page hardback goes for $249, but I came across a $99 listing on Amazon (which is now gone.). The field guide is less than $50.

Finally, last but not least, there is a great little book on New Caledonia palms: The Palms of New Caledonia / Les Palmiers de Nouvelle-Caledonie by Donald R Hodel. Can anyone share their review of this book?

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Haha. You can't call yourself a Madagascar or New Cal palm lover without these books. All 3 books a big thumbs up. POM will have a new one out in a few years I have heard. Pintaud's book is a little outdated with names but a must have.

The IPS website has good deals for members:

http://www.palms.org/shoppingcart.cfm/ses_/c,list,x,x,0,x,x,x,x/

Len

Vista, CA (Zone 10a)

Shadowridge Area

"Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are."

-- Alfred Austin

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Axel, I am surprised that you do not already own a copy of the big book regarding Madagascar. It has proved nevertheless barely useful to me. At least I have learned that whichever Dypsis is offered as tsaratananensis has at least a dubious identity.

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I have the last one,''Palms of New Caledonia'' and its more than worth its money! A great book to read and keep as reference with detailed habitat and identification information and lots of photos! Some cultural info too but PalmTalk is more useful on that aspect :)

''To try,is to risk failure.......To not try,is to guarantee it''

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Hi Axel,

These books are indispensable / essential for a serious palm aficionado, and I can tell from your posts that you are a very serious one!

However, they don't really have a lot of information in terms of cultural requirements.

But the data on habitat, soil and altitude are really complete and help a lot to estimate which species corresponds to your climate.

For example, I'm pretty sure that almost all the upland palms in Mada would work well at your place. Some are already famous (Dypsis decipiens, D. onilahensis, etc), but a few others are more rare and, for those, POM is very helpful.

I guess almost all NC palms would work in Santa Cruz, but again, information on habitat helps to make the best choices when it's time to plant: exposure, etc.

And it's always a true delight to read them: I make great dream after reading these books... :rolleyes:

Sebastian, garden on La Palma island, 370 m (1200 feet) above sea level / USDA Zone 11/12 ; Heat zone IV / V

Record High: 42°C (107F) / Record Low: 9°C (48°F). Rain: 600 mm (24 inches) per year with dry/wet seasons. Warm Season: July-November / Cool Season: December-June
Warmest month (August/September) average minimum temperature : 21°C (70°F) / Warmest month (August/September) average maximum temperature : 28°C (82°F)
Coldest month (February/March) average minimum temperature : 14,5°C (58°F) / Coldest month (February/March) average maximum temperature : 21°C (70°F)

Temperature of the sea : minimum of 20°C (68°F) in march, maximum of 25°C (77°F) in September/October.


 

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A lot of what you read in Palmpedia is taken from POM and GPII verbatim.

Kim Cyr

Between the beach and the bays, Point Loma, San Diego, California USA
and on a 300 year-old lava flow, Pahoa, Hawaii, 1/4 mile from the 2018 flow
All characters  in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Haha. You can't call yourself a Madagascar or New Cal palm lover without these books. All 3 books a big thumbs up. POM will have a new one out in a few years I have heard. Pintaud's book is a little outdated with names but a must have.

The IPS website has good deals for members:

http://www.palms.org/shoppingcart.cfm/ses_/c,list,x,x,0,x,x,x,x/

Dang, I tried to order, and got some sort of ColdFusion stack dump. I also have a hunch Amazon is cheaper once the shipping costs are included.

Invalid list index 1.
In function ListGetAt(list, index [, delimiters]), the value of index, 1, is not a valid as the first argument (this list has 0 elements). Valid indexes are in the range 1 through the number of elements in the list.
The error occurred in D:\www\stansfeld\palms\ezcart\includes\ordercalculate.cfm: line 37
Called from D:\www\stansfeld\palms\ezcart\includes\ordercalculate.cfm: line 1
Called from D:\www\stansfeld\palms\ezcart\checkout.cfm: line 666
Called from D:\www\stansfeld\palms\ezcart\checkout.cfm: line 659
Called from D: line -1
Called from D:\www\stansfeld\palms\ezcart\checkout.cfm: line 640
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Called from D:\www\stansfeld\palms\ezcart\checkout.cfm: line 1
Called from D:\www\stansfeld\palms\shoppingcart.cfm: line 233
35 :
36 : <cfset variables.shippkg = "">
37 : <cfset variables.shipment_method = listgetat(variables.servicenames, 1)>
38 : <CFIF listlen(ShipService) IS "1">
39 : <cfset variables.sh = rereplace(decimalFormat(listgetat(variables.servicecharges, ShipS
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another "must own" palm book for me is "Chamaedorea Palms" by Hodel. you can find it on the IPS website as well.

Grant
Long Beach, CA

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Axel -- I'm checking into that error message for you.

Kim Cyr

Between the beach and the bays, Point Loma, San Diego, California USA
and on a 300 year-old lava flow, Pahoa, Hawaii, 1/4 mile from the 2018 flow
All characters  in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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When I was in Madagascar I had the bible with me (Palms of Madagascar). I gave my copy to Bruno while I was there and I have not replaced it. For a first effort the book was incredible, and much of it still is useful. I have not bought another copy because I find so much as changed since the book was written that it is a relic at this point. I am waiting patiently for the new edition to be out so I can make my purchase.

Rock Ridge Ranch

South Escondido

5 miles ENE Rancho Bernardo

33.06N 117W, Elevation 971 Feet

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Many of the species descriptions in PoM are online (direct copy) but I don't think you can find the background stuff which is particularly interesting. There are also some great academic papers like the Ceroxylon and Geonoma reviews online.

If it's cultivational info you want the best hard copy source is the Encyclopaedia of Cultivated Palms. However it is somewhat conservative in terms of the heat requirements of some palms so don't be put off trying things they describe as tropical or subtropical! It also has a rather random selection of Dypsis.

Palms of Colombia (just released last year) is outstanding but in Spanish only.

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Axel, I have palms of Madagascar and New Caledonia and enjoy both of them. I bought my POM on amazon a couple years ago for around $60. Just keep an eye on amazon and every once in a while one will show up for $99 or so. I ordered the New Caledonia book through the IPS.

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Axel, I have palms of Madagascar and New Caledonia and enjoy both of them. I bought my POM on amazon a couple years ago for around $60. Just keep an eye on amazon and every once in a while one will show up for $99 or so. I ordered the New Caledonia book through the IPS.

I took the plunge and grabbed the one for $99. How much was the shipping of the Newcal book from IPS? The shipping from Amazon is 2 day and its free. Can't order from IPS anyway until the site gets fixed.

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This was my first book; 250 pgs, all illustrations are pencil drawings, pronunciation key for genus and species. Cost a whopping $6 back in '74.

scan0005_zpsca583db0.jpg

 

 

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This was my first book; 250 pgs, all illustrations are pencil drawings, pronunciation key for genus and species. Cost a whopping $6 back in '74.

scan0005_zpsca583db0.jpg

According to the inflation calculator (http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm.) that would be $28.43 today, compared to $19 for the 1995 edition on Amazon with free prime shipping. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?index=books&linkCode=qs&keywords=0813014417)

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For the life of me, I don't know how one could get through life without owning the POM book. Lol! I bought mine when it was first released. To me, it's the bible of palms for this region of the world. And obviously if your going to Madagascar, the Field Guide would be something to carry along and navigate you around. I made two trips, in 2005 and then 2006. We used the POM book relentlessly all day and then at night while we were relaxing trying to figure out at times what we saw and what we collected. The Field Guide had not come out then. I bought this one too. BTW, there's a great pic on page 100. Lol.

Searle Brothers Nursery Inc.

and The Rainforest Collection.

Southwest Ranches,Fl.

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I just got this book from the author herself... She even gave me a small dedication... It havs allready proven to indispensable here in the bolivian jungle...

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Son many wonderful palms 10 minutes up the river...

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This was my first book; 250 pgs, all illustrations are pencil drawings, pronunciation key for genus and species. Cost a whopping $6 back in '74.

scan0005_zpsca583db0.jpg

Awesome. I would love to have a copy of this one

In my post I sometimes express "my" opinion. Warning, it may differ from "your" opinion. If so, please do not feel insulted, just state your own if you wish. Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or any other damages

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If you are "really into Palms" these 9 are :greenthumb::greenthumb: I want to addPalm De Bolivia Jonas is showing and Palms of Colombia Rich mentioned.

Heres a few to show inside the Stunning Palms of NC, its a "Fantastic" book, with a "wealth of info" and "pristine pics", once you get it, you will have a "hunger/ obsession" for N Cal Palms. :)

pic 420 is Len n Matts Lavoixia ( Clinosperma) and 421 is Veillonia alba ( Cyphophoenix)

Pete :)

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post-5709-0-02313600-1378440172_thumb.jp

post-5709-0-50667200-1378440202_thumb.jp

post-5709-0-71381100-1378440226_thumb.jp

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  • 1 year later...

Yes, there are. John Dransfield was in Hilo earlier this year and I asked him specifically about this. Apparently another couple of years before publication, though, but work is in progress.

Leilani Estates, 25 mls/40 km south of Hilo, Big Island of Hawai'i. Elevation 880 ft/270 m. Average rainfall 140 inches/3550 mm

 

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Oh, good to know!

Everyone asks me as if I'd actually know.

Now, I do. Sort of.

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

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POM is an amazing book one every Palm nut should have it, can't wait for the new edition.

Does anybody have this book? http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8876.html

I wish there was a good book on Palms of SE Asia that included Malaysia, Indonesia, PNG, I have the "Palms of Indonesia" booklet but its really not that good.

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