Acanthophoenix rousselii; unknown untill fifteen years ago

[hery]

Hi,

I took these pictures of Acanthophoenix rousselii a few years ago. This species of about fifty palms are greatly threatened, they survive in an agricultural area between 600 and 900 meters asl in the south of Reunion Island. About fifteen years ago, some palm accustomed eyes were first puzzled by the seeds size -around four times bigger than the two other Acanthophoenix- and then by the abundance of the crown shaft. Since the species grows in a few gardens in Reunion. One out of the four I planted is still alive at my place; because of drought times and the fact that three were away from the faucet.

[hery]

And to compare with.

Acanthophoenix rubra and acanthophoenix crinita :

[carver]

Very nice! Thanks for posting Hery, I read they loose their spines as they grow, at what stage do they do this?

[BS Man about Palms]

My Crinita might start to trunk this year..

I'd like to get the others too...

[Tyrone]

Great pictures Hery. I must have tried hundreds of seeds at different times of all 3 species, and have only ever had two A rubra germinate. I'm thinking now the seeds must be super fresh to germinate. I wish I knew the secret to germinating them.

Best regards

Tyrone

[hery]

Very nice! Thanks for posting Hery, I read they loose their spines as they grow, at what stage do they do this?

It depends of the altitude, for that matter Acanthophoenix crinita the most elevated one -above 1500 meters asl- never loose their spines, they only shorten to look like stiff hair on goast hoof therefore its local name. A. rousselii of average altitude loose them but some remain, but less bushy than on A. crinita leaf base. A. rubra gradualy loose them, all is gone when its trunk is about one meter tall. Legend has it, spines on juveniles were to prevent tortoises -vanished now- to eat them, seems logical !

Best regards

Hery

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck]

Great pictures Hery. I must have tried hundreds of seeds at different times of all 3 species, and have only ever had two A rubra germinate. I'm thinking now the seeds must be super fresh to germinate. I wish I knew the secret to germinating them.

Best regards

Tyrone

Tyrone your right there they are like lipsticks, (C.renda) to

strike, the fresher the better with these guys....

.. Regards Mikey...

[hery]

Great pictures Hery. I must have tried hundreds of seeds at different times of all 3 species, and have only ever had two A rubra germinate. I'm thinking now the seeds must be super fresh to germinate. I wish I knew the secret to germinating them.

Best regards

Tyrone

That what I noticed too; fresh seeds are likelier to germinate. Personaly, I use to take seedlings directly at the feet of the mature ones.

Regards

Hery

[gyuseppe]

hello Hery.

if the seeds are rare, you put more plants in your garden ,in order to have the seeds for future generations.

[John in Andalucia]

I have a few seeds from a Reunion supplier, but nothing sprouting here yet. I don't know if Colin had any luck with his. I think the former name was Acanthophoenix sp. tripaludis.

[hery]

hello Hery.

if the seeds are rare, you put more plants in your garden ,in order to have the seeds for future generations.

Hi Gyuseppe,

It's very difficult for me to grow this species, due to a lack of humidity during several months. Even the only one which remains at my home -near a tap- vegetates in comparison with those elsewhere in friends gardens, of which trunks are more than one meter tall. Unless, to wait a couple of dozen years for seeds ...

Regards

Hery

[hery]

I have a few seeds from a Reunion supplier, but nothing sprouting here yet. I don't know if Colin had any luck with his. I think the former name was Acanthophoenix sp. tripaludis.

Exactly, the synonym of A. rousselii is A. tripaludis -"trois mares" in French, or "three ponds" in English-

Regards

[Tyrone]

Mikey, thanks for the info regarding freshness. I think I need to get them direct from Reunion for any results. Air Mauritius flies to Perth every week, so you can't get more direct than that. Now to find a seed donor.

Hery, all the best growing those Acanthophoenix. A rousellii is near La Tampon??? That is near the Hyophorbe indica red form location isn't it? Any pics of that species in your travels.

Best regards

Tyrone

[hery]

Mikey, thanks for the info regarding freshness. I think I need to get them direct from Reunion for any results. Air Mauritius flies to Perth every week, so you can't get more direct than that. Now to find a seed donor.

Hery, all the best growing those Acanthophoenix. A rousellii is near La Tampon??? That is near the Hyophorbe indica red form location isn't it? Any pics of that species in your travels.

Best regards

Tyrone

Ok, Tyrone. I don't know how I will manage all my promises ! The fact is that in a few days I'm in holiday -no fear I will fly to Perth- I think I'm going to do a tour at Le Tampon, more exactly at Trois Mares, the place where they discovered A. Rousselii, at only 10 kilometers where I live. I will try to fetch fresh seeds -or seedlings-, but I don't know if it is the right season and moreover I will have to cope with the reluctances of field owners, since they have got information about this treasure; no-trespassing signs blossom at every corner. In the over hand, town council had employees plant Hyophorbe indica along the streets of which I think the red form, I will make some shots.

Regards.

Hery

Edited December 14, 2010 by hery

[Tyrone]

Mikey, thanks for the info regarding freshness. I think I need to get them direct from Reunion for any results. Air Mauritius flies to Perth every week, so you can't get more direct than that. Now to find a seed donor.

Hery, all the best growing those Acanthophoenix. A rousellii is near La Tampon??? That is near the Hyophorbe indica red form location isn't it? Any pics of that species in your travels.

Best regards

Tyrone

Ok, Tyrone. I don't know how I will manage all my promises ! The fact is that in a few days I'm in holiday -no fear I will fly to Perth- I think I'm going to do a tour at Le Tampon, more exactly at Trois Mares, the place where they discovered A. Rousselii, at only 10 kilometers where I live. I will try to fetch fresh seeds -or seedlings-, but I don't know if it is the right season and moreover I will have to cope with the reluctances of field owners, since they have got information about this treasure; no-trespassing signs blossom at every corner. In the over hand, town council had employees plant Hyophorbe indica along the streets of which I think the red form, I will make some shots.

Regards.

Hery

Hery, I will personal message you.

Best regards

Tyrone

[quaman58]

Thanks Hery for the pics! It's always nice to see shots in habitat. Are you aware of the differences in seedlings between A. rousselii & the other 2 species? I have A. crinita & rubra. But I also have a couple seedlings (sold to me as rubra, which they are not) which are different from either. But I'm not aware of any pictures around of young rousselii, so I' not sure what they are. Any thoughts you have are very much appreciated!

Bret

[hery]

Thanks Hery for the pics! It's always nice to see shots in habitat. Are you aware of the differences in seedlings between A. rousselii & the other 2 species? I have A. crinita & rubra. But I also have a couple seedlings (sold to me as rubra, which they are not) which are different from either. But I'm not aware of any pictures around of young rousselii, so I' not sure what they are. Any thoughts you have are very much appreciated!

Bret

Hi Bret,

No doubt about a. rousselii seeds they have the same look than A. crinita or A. rubra but four times bigger, i.e same shape and this caracteristic bump in front of the seed. Seedlings of rousselii look like rubra without this reddish color on the leaves and no tomentum under, with leaflets that is not the case of crinita which has big not divide leaves for the first sprouts.

Regards.

Hery

[quaman58]

Thank you Hery. If anything, these are taking longer than crinita to develop fully divided leaves. They also have fewer, but stiffer spines than crinita. Could be a varient, or a cross, or even individual characteristics of the mother plant from this seed batch. But it does not sound like rousselii based on your description.

Thanks again,

Bret

Edited December 14, 2010 by quaman58

[edric]

Great photos Hery! Best of luck, Ed