Plectocomia elongata

[Eric in Orlando]

Plectocomia elongata is a giant rattan palm that can climb over 100ft into the trees. This one was planted in Feb. 2002 as a small plant about 2ft tall. It is now easily 50ft up into the trees. MMC collected the seed in Indonesia in 2000. Its supposed to be a single trunk specimen but ours has grown a few suckers in the last couple of years. Its hard to photograph since it has grown so far up into the canopy.

[Breadfruit Bill]

Cool Palm Eric! I visited D'Asign source and saw a Calamus caryotoides... ever since then I have been itching to learn more about these climbing flagella havin' palms!

BTW, had a great time at Leu when passing thru around Thanksgiving... When I ran into you we surely hadn't gotten to the palm gardens... WOW is all I can say. I saw lots of cuban stuff I wouldn't have expected to see growing in Otown. (I wanted to snatch up the Reinhardtia gracilis, but I behaved! ) I snapped a picture with my head in between a Sabal Lisa and a couple other randoms... I would like to make a trip up there one weekend to really take me time and check out everything in the gardens... I hate that I went to school in Deland and never knew of Leu's treasures so close by. Blah Blah Blah all that to say, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[SubTropicRay]

Eric,

Is this the same species you donated at a CFPACS December meeting a few years back?

Ray

[richnorm]

Hi Eric. thanks for the post. A couple of questions. In your estimation how high can these get before they need supporting? I understand they have 8 inch thick trunks and am hoping they can be grown in clear space for a while to show off those beautiful drooping leaves. Secondly, is the base clean or do the spines start at ground level?

cheers

Richard

[Eric in Orlando]

Give me a holler a day or 2 before and I can clear my schedule and drive you around to see everything.

LOL, you mean this R. gracilis ?

Cool Palm Eric! I visited D'Asign source and saw a Calamus caryotoides... ever since then I have been itching to learn more about these climbing flagella havin' palms!

BTW, had a great time at Leu when passing thru around Thanksgiving... When I ran into you we surely hadn't gotten to the palm gardens... WOW is all I can say. I saw lots of cuban stuff I wouldn't have expected to see growing in Otown. (I wanted to snatch up the Reinhardtia gracilis, but I behaved! ) I snapped a picture with my head in between a Sabal Lisa and a couple other randoms... I would like to make a trip up there one weekend to really take me time and check out everything in the gardens... I hate that I went to school in Deland and never knew of Leu's treasures so close by. Blah Blah Blah all that to say, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[Eric in Orlando]

yes, it was an extra. I think I brought it to the Christmas meeting at Cocoa Beach a couple years ago. Can't remember who got it and braved the ride home with it!

Eric,

Is this the same species you donated at a CFPACS December meeting a few years back?

Ray

[Eric in Orlando]

This one grew unsupported for 6-7ft then it reached the tree branches and began snaking its way up. It still has sheaths covering the stem all the way to the ground but is just starting to shed them. the lowest leaf is about 6ft up the trunk. Its spiny but much less viscious than other rattans.

Hi Eric. thanks for the post. A couple of questions. In your estimation how high can these get before they need supporting? I understand they have 8 inch thick trunks and am hoping they can be grown in clear space for a while to show off those beautiful drooping leaves. Secondly, is the base clean or do the spines start at ground level?

cheers

Richard

[Caryota_gigas]

Hi Eric,

How thick at the base is yours at present?

[Eric in Orlando]

At the base it is about as thick as a shovel handle.

[Caryota_gigas]

Hmmm... Mine is already thicker than that and is only about 6 foot tall.