Wastelands Latania verschaffeltii

[greysrigging]

For many years I've noticed a forlorn lonely fan palm struggling to grow on an abandoned wasteland/gravel quarry site behind Holmes Jungle on the outskirts of Darwin. The land area is a favorite illegal dumping ground among those who don't want to pay commercial dump fees at the local Tip. I poke around the area salvaging paving materials, plant cuttings, collect seeds from native plants etc.
I've often wondered what this palm was/is and pondered upon how tough it is to survive the 6 months of water logging then 6 months of drought.
I might have even asked for an ID on the Forum previously, but A/- memory is slipping, and B/- I'm hopeless with the 'search' function...lol.
Anyways, a couple of knowledgeable blokes on some Palm FB Groups think it's a Latania verschaffeltii. I used to think a Sabal of some sort... in any case a species a long way from home and totally out of place in the Top End bush. As mentioned earlier.... as tough as old boots, growing on rocky gravel where even native plant species have struggled to re establish.
These first couple of pics I took in the depths of the 'dry season' 12 months ago

^^so no shade, no water and you would think no hope of survival...^^
These next pics taken 6 months later in the middle of the 'wet season'. I felt a bit sorry for it and gave it a good feed of 'Rooster Booster' pellets.
 
Which brings me to last weekend ( post large bushfires in the area a few weeks previously )
One very scorched and singed Yellow Latan.....hard to imagine it surviving the fires, but this area burns at least every second or third year normally, so I'm thinking it has probably seen fire in its earlier days. And probably another 2 and a half or 3 months before any rain. One tough species !





 

[greysrigging]

Here's a couple more escapees into the Top End bush. Growing ( thriving ) in the gravel along side a busy arterial road in Darwin, and just over the fence of a local Navy Base.
Typically, these palms see no water at all for 4 or 5 months. But gee, don't they look healthy ! ( perhaps a little bit of sunburn )
 

[tropicbreeze]

That looks like what I have coming up around my place. Not in any irrigated areas/gardens. I always suspected some type of Sabal. They're slow growing, none of the ones here have started trunking yet.

[greysrigging]

1 hour ago, tropicbreeze said:

That looks like what I have coming up around my place. Not in any irrigated areas/gardens. I always suspected some type of Sabal. They're slow growing, none of the ones here have started trunking yet.

There must be some native critters spreading the seeds...... they handle the seasonal dry that's for sure ( growing along Amy Johnston Dr between the Stuart Highway and Tiger Brennan Dr, )

[greysrigging]

Looks like this escapee is going to survive the fires....


 

[Dartolution]

I think we can rule out any species of Sabal. At least, definitely not any that I am familiar with... and Sabal is my favorite genus. 

 

[greysrigging]

3 hours ago, Dartolution said:

I think we can rule out any species of Sabal. At least, definitely not any that I am familiar with... and Sabal is my favorite genus. 

 

You do see a few varieties of Sabal around town.... but not commonly planted. I have one in my back yard.... always thought it might be a Dwarf Sabal Palmetto. About 25 years old, maybe more, in this spot. Very slow growing, but has taken off in the last 4 or 5 years or so. Maybe you can I D this one for me ?

 

[Dartolution]

I wish I could, however sabals are notoriously difficult to ID when younger. The one you have however is absolutely stunning. Love the form. 

 

[greysrigging]

So. once you start looking for the bush escapees, they seem to be a bit more common than I thought previously.... Some more Yellow Latan Palms on wastelands close to the suburbs.

And not officially escapee's, these African Oil Palms were part of a failed experimental plantation on Darwin Prison land dating back 30 to 35 years ago.

Edited August 12, 2020 by greysrigging
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