Seedlings, juveniles, and adults

[John Case]

When does a seedling become a juvenile plant and a juvenile become adult? Is there a line of 'demarcation' where someone can definitively state that 'this palm is a juvenile'?

I would like to throw out the first defintions for fodder so the more experienced palmists can rip them up.

The first transition from seedling to juvenile is when the plant leaves change from the seedling 'strap' from to the typical form.

The transition from juvenile to adult is when the leaves achieve adult size.

While it is clear that a palm must be an adult to flower, there are so many environmental reasond that a tree will flower or no flower, that it is not a reliable key to the achievement of adult form.

Since I am not a botanist, I am sure that these descriptions will be torn apart. But are these descriptions adequate for the palmaholic?

[Kostas]

Hello John!

Lets take it from the start. A palm seed officially becomes a seedling once the root is longer than the seed or longer than a few cms(for large seeds...). A palm ceases to be a seedling once the seed is spent and the coteledonary petiole shrinks away. The others,i dont know but what you say,would be a good guess

[John Case]

Hello John!

Lets take it from the start. A palm seed officially becomes a seedling once the root is longer than the seed or longer than a few cms(for large seeds...). A palm ceases to be a seedling once the seed is spent and the coteledonary petiole shrinks away. The others,i dont know but what you say,would be a good guess

Kostas,

I understand your definition, but many palms are described and traded here as seedlings that have long past your description.

Hopefully, others wil support your position or expand upon it.

Thanks

[Patrick]

John, That's an easy one.

It goes from being a seed to a seedling the instant you see any green sticking up out of the dirt. It automatically becomes 5 gallon size the second you re-pot it. That's how the guys on e-bay price and do it, so they must be right, right????

[Kostas]

Hi John!

Most palms that are arround 10cm(or more sometimes) tall are usually called seedlings by hobbists and others just because they are very small and look like a ''typical'' seedling but that does not mean they are true seedlings. Many slow palms(say Cyphosperma... ) need years to pass 10cm in size but their seed is usually spent faster...Also,not many people know the botanical terms and what actually the word seedling means(plant connected to a seed) nor give too much though on its size description since most consider it relative to this individual's view of things(half empty-half full...). And as a photo usually accompanys it the viewer usually gives his own description to what he sees and something one called a young palms another may call a seedling.Such are things when terms are not widely known.

Genera palmarum has a great chapter about palm life stages that helps a lot with these descriptions but i dont remember what exactly is written so i better not speak about the other descriptions till i reread it...

[John Case]

Hi John!

Most palms that are arround 10cm(or more sometimes) tall are usually called seedlings by hobbists and others just because they are very small and look like a ''typical'' seedling but that does not mean they are true seedlings. Many slow palms(say Cyphosperma... ) need years to pass 10cm in size but their seed is usually spent faster...Also,not many people know the botanical terms and what actually the word seedling means(plant connected to a seed) nor give too much though on its size description since most consider it relative to this individual's view of things(half empty-half full...). And as a photo usually accompanys it the viewer usually gives his own description to what he sees and something one called a young palms another may call a seedling.Such are things when terms are not widely known.

Genera palmarum has a great chapter about palm life stages that helps a lot with these descriptions but i dont remember what exactly is written so i better not speak about the other descriptions till i reread it...

I have my copy as well. I guess rereading is the task of the day!