Spiny palms

[bruno]

Carlo, thank you for taking so much time to answer my question. And it was done in a magnificently professiona way.

I have not checked your article yet but I will do that tomorrow night. It is late here.

[Norm]

Here's why I keep this spiny guy around.http://www.17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/lanikaiguy/Aihpanesflower9-26-03.jpg]

[Norm]

Well, sorry, cannot seem to get an image going.  The inflorescence on the Aiphanes is really stunning.  maybe one day...

[bgl]

Another friendly rattan palm: Calamus erectus

[bgl]

I started out this thread with photos of three spiny palms from the Seychelles. Just so they won't feel left out, here are the other two... First Nephrosperma vanhoutteanum

[bgl]

And the smallest: Roscheria melanochaetes

[amazondk]

Here is a Astrocaryum acaule I found growing by the river in March.  It is a trunkless palm and has an edible fruit similar to the Astrocaryum aculeatum.  One thing we have a lot of here in the forest are spiny palms.  That is one of the reasons I started wearing boots while out walking about in the woods.  The other was the ants.  

dk

These palms grow in flooded forest areas along with the L. pulchara.  This palm was still on dry ground, but since the river still rose in level it must have been flooded by now.

River bank area Astrocaryum acaule in foreground

[amazondk]

Here is one of my favorite spiny palms of the forest the Astrocaryum murumuru.  These trees poke up into the forest canopy and make a great sight.

And, then there is the Astrocaryum aculeatum, the tucumã.  Nothing like a breakfast with melted cheese and tucumã slices in french bread.  You may notice there are not many spines on the trunks of these trees.  That is probably because the residents burned them off to make collecting the fruit easier.  These trees do not seem to suffer much damage from fire, and may even help them as they are a secondary vegetation tree.

[Guest]

Don, the photos of A. murumuru and A. aculeatum were already in my PC library as you have posted these two before, but I got blown by the first couple of shot! Especially the second photo illustrates a place where I'd like to run to (and got lost) any time to escape the reality. Thanks, Jan

[amazondk]

Jan,

Make sure you take a GPS and a compass with you or you really would get lost.  In addition let me know and I will find a local guide for you, that is better than the other two items.  Nice to hear from you again.  I hope all is well.

dk

[bgl]

Don,

Those are some very impressive palms! And I'm sure that must be an amazing environment.

Bo

[amazondk]

Bo,

I like Amazonia a lot, you should come visit sometime.  There sure are a lot of spiny palms for sure.  

dk

[chris78]

Hi Don

I just LOVE your pictures of the Amazon....keep them coming. I been to Costa Rica, but always wanted to visit the Amazon. I am going to Colombia in Nov. I might try to visit the Amazon there. But my friend who lives there says it might be dangerous.

Well below is my little jungle....the palm on the left is a spiny Acrocomia totai which by the way has flowered every year for the past 5 years...but never produced a seed!!!

[amazondk]

Chris,

Our state, Amazonas has a rather long border with Colcombia.  And, from what I understand the Colombian side can be a bit dangerous still as it still has a lot of problems with the guerillas and drug traffickng.  Occaisionally some of this spills over into our side of the border.

dk

[Walter John]

We have dangerous people spilling over into our side of the border too. They're called southerners and they are driving up our cost of living

[amazondk]

Wal,

Migration is a never ending story, especially when you live where things are good.

dk

[bgl]

Mauritiella armata has spines that are a little bit different from the rest. You can actually touch these without too much of a problem.

[paulgila]

salacca species,payangan,bali.i believe this is the species that produces what they call "snake-fruit".

[nomolos]

Can you remove the spines, will this damage the plant, just to protect children I'm thinking.

[Kom Thai Palm]

Calamus sp.

[Kom Thai Palm]

Calamus sp.

[Kom Thai Palm]

Maxburretia furtadoana

[PalmGuyWC]

At first glance at this thread I thought, "Yucht, no way"!!!! They are pretty, but at a distance and best in someone's else's garden, and then I remembered Trithrinax campestrus of which I have two large ones. Not only are the trunks armed with long spines, but the tips of the fronds are vicious and I have been pricked many times by the fronds. A prick from a Trithrinax frond stings like a bee sting, and I think it must have some toxic substance on it. Also T. acanthocoma...long spines along the trunks.

Then I have Chamaerops growing all over the place and they are pretty spiney. I always seem to get one in my scalp when I'm trimming them. And then there are the Washingtonias, usually not a problem because the spines are up so high, but requires gloves to move the fronds when they blow down. Even Trachycarpus and Serenoa.....with minor spines, and then Rhapidophyllum.....long nasty spines along the trunk, oh and Livistona australis and dicipiens with nasty spines along the petioles. The Butias can rip the skin too with hooked, stiff spines along the petiole. Last but not least are the Phoenix.  I guess I do live with spines.

Dick

[Tomsky]

Here's a spiny Trithrinax Acanthocoma with tempting fruit. But they're not edible.

Jack

[tropicalb]

this is one of my favorite palms....

My Aiphanes erosa (my avatar too!):

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

Burt, thanks a bunch for reviving this thread, i had missed it back when it was active.

Rusty

[tropicalb]

kudos to tomsky...he's the one that got me going again on this thread!

[AggiePalms]

I agree with Dick in Walnut Creek about the more temperate spiny palms. Our only native here is Rhapidophyllum, which can be pretty nasty with 6" or more spines, especially since it hides as an understory in my yard. I've got the standard spiny temperate species: Butia, Washingtonia, Chaemerops, etc. None of these bother me a bit, until I have to trim off the dead fronds. Then they hurt, but better a spiny palm than no palm, any day!

If only I could grow the rain forest spiny species in the ground. I'm going to get a few seedlings this summer and try them in pots, for bringing in the house in winter. I'm hoping for the best.

[realarch]

There are a few spiny palms I'd like to have, but for the most part I'm with Al in Kona, I'll enjoy them in YOUR garden.

Tim

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

kudos to tomsky...he's the one that got me going again on this thread!

Burt, thanks for the heads up, my Sesame street attention span kicked in and i didn't scroll up.

Tomsky, thanks for the bump.

I really love the palms with attitude, starting with any armed petioles and progressing upwards from there...my favorite is Salacca Zalaca (SP?)....but my Aiphanes aculeata is running a close second.

[Pedro 65]

There are a few spiny palms I'd like to have, but for the most part I'm with Al in Kona, I'll enjoy them in YOUR garden.

Tim

OK, This is a BUMP, not a Dump ( good 1 Lee

Im Bumping this because = After Tims Spiny Palms thread around 2 weeks ago he "very proudly" shared in his beautiful gardens, it shows that Palms you "dont want" in you gardens "now", you most likely "will" down the track. Tims quote above was 5 yrs ago..

Pete

[_Keith]

So, the lesson is "don't dump, wait for the bump."

[Pedro 65]

So, the lesson is "don't dump, wait for the bump."

There are a few spiny palms I'd like to have, but for the most part I'm with Al in Kona, I'll enjoy them in YOUR garden.

Tim

OK, This is a BUMP, not a Dump ( good 1 Lee

Im Bumping this because = After Tims Spiny Palms thread around 2 weeks ago he "very proudly" shared in his beautiful gardens, it shows that Palms you "dont want" in you gardens "now", you most likely "will" down the track. Tims quote above was 5 yrs ago..

Pete

Actually Keith, yours "mate" was a Dump because you didnt show Tims post of 5 yrs ago and "Why" I Bumped this thread Pete

[doranakandawatta]

Spiny Bump!!!!

As I didn't exist at the time bgl started this thread, I am glad you bumped it!

Many Thanks!

Philippe

[realarch]

Pete reminded me of my comment in post #69. Well so much for that and thanks Pete! I started a spiny palm thread not too long ago of those pointy buggers that have made their way into my garden. All planted around the periphery though.

I do have open space behind my property where the Pigafetta and Astrocaryum are planted.

Tim

[LilikoiLee]

Roscheria

We have a number of spiny palms.....didn't really think about them until I saw this post. Someone mentioned Roscheria so I am posting a picture of the most mature one. The spines on Roscheria reduce as the palm matures. The close up shows the current status of the spines on the our most mature three- far fewer than when we planted it. As you can see by the close up the palm is seeding.

Lee

[LilikoiLee]

Deckenia nobilis -

This one is really spiny - I stay as far away as I can get. Mike barely grazed a finger on one of the spines and it was swollen and painful for a month. He says it still bothers him from time to time.

Lee

[Cindy Adair]

That Roscheria is really nice. Hope you have lots of seed, perhaps for a future Palmtalk fundraiser?

The Deckenia is appealing too, but with your husband's experience I think I'll admire the photo rather than try to grow that one!

Here's a link to the topic started by Realarch for those who missed it. More great photos!

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/38402-show-some-spines/?hl=%2Bspiny+%2Bpalms

[realarch]

Lee, does his finger bother him from time to time or does the palm? I know I do, that's a given.

Tim