Common names for Archontophoenix

[Central Floridave]

I'm curious to hear (especially from aussies) on what the common names are for all the Archontophoenix. Thanks.

A. alexandrae

A. cunninghamiana

A. maxima

A. myolensis

A. purpurea

A. tuckeri

[DoomsDave]

I'm curious to hear (especially from aussies) on what the common names are for all the Archontophoenix. Thanks.

A. alexandrae

ALEXANDER PALM

A. cunninghamiana

KING PALM, PICCABEEN, BANGALOW

A. maxima

DUNNO

A. myolensis

DUNNO

A. purpurea

DUNNO

A. tuckeri

PEACH RIVER

HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS . . . .

[Gonzer]

Kings

[Bae72]

Well, I call one Bob, the other Trevor, and that one Betty...oh you meant common names, not given names.

[pindo]

Well, I call one Bob, the other Trevor, and that one Betty...oh you meant common names, not given names.

:floor:

uuupppssss !!!! excuse me

[Daryl]

I'm curious to hear (especially from aussies) on what the common names are for all the Archontophoenix. Thanks.

A. alexandrae

Alexandra Palm or 'Alex' for short

A. cunninghamiana

Bangalow

A. maxima

Maxima

A. myolensis

Myolensis

A. purpurea

Mt Lewis

A. tuckeri

Tuckeri

Apart from alexs and Bangalows, they are not commonly cultivated, except by collectors. Most collectors call them be their full name, but also shortened to the names above.

Daryl

[Tyrone]

I've sometimes called A purpurea the Purple Alexander Palm, and A maxima an Atherton Tablelands Alexander Palm, but only when talking to people who don't like latin names. Otherwise they are just purpurea and maxima. Sometimes A maxima is referred to as Archontophoenix Walsh River.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Walter John]

Once again....

Archo common names

[Tropicgardener]

I call them WEEDS

[Bae72]

I call them WEEDS

What do you call Queens then? I remember in Balina a few years ago, someone told me the Queen was a weed. Nobody seemed worried about the Bangalow palm, which was named after a place just up the road from Balina I believe.

[Central Floridave]

Thanks for the inputs and that old link from 1834.

I think we call them all King palms like mentioned here in Florida. That is why I asked.

Don't be down on common names as they are used for common people like me who don't want to speak in forked tongues.

Saying Archontophoenix purpurea to a newbee walking the yard may be impressive, but they are not going to remember it as easy as a Purple King palm.

fyi, google knows and finds "purple king palms" just as well.

[sonoranfans]

Ive heard the maxima called "walsh river king", and the purpurea called "Mt lewis King" I believe, and A. myolensis called "myola palm".

[Central Floridave]

Just as fyi, in the 1984 book Palms In Australia by David Jones, there is no "king palm" in the Index for Common Names.

In the more recent An Encylopedia of Cultivated Palms in its index of common names, "King palm. See Archontophoenix, A. alexandrea, A. cunninghamiana"

In contrast, the Queen is listed in the common name index of the 1984 book, but not Encylopedia of Cult.Palms.

[Jonathan]

Just as fyi, in the 1984 book Palms In Australia by David Jones, there is no "king palm" in the Index for Common Names.

In the more recent An Encylopedia of Cultivated Palms in its index of common names, "King palm. See Archontophoenix, A. alexandrea, A. cunninghamiana"

In contrast, the Queen is listed in the common name index of the 1984 book, but not Encylopedia of Cult.Palms.

Thats cause no-one in Australia calls them King Palms...its an American confection!

Somehow 'Bangalow' has not caught on over there.

If we started calling Sabals 'President Palms' - would you think we were strange...

Cheers,

Jonathan

[Tyrone]

I agree. King Palms is an American thing. To me they are just Alexanders and Bangalows. Then there are people out there who call them "Bungalow" palms.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Walter John]

Don't forget Picabeen is still popular

[Dave-Vero]

John Dowe, "Australian Palms: Biogeography, Ecology and Systematics"

Archontophoenix alexandrae: Alexandra palm, King palm

A. cunninghamiana, Bangalow palm, picabbean palm

A. maxima, Herberton Range Archontophoenix

A. myolensis, Myola Archontophoenix

A. purpurea, Mt Lewis Archontophoenix

A. tuckeri, Rocky River Archontophoenix, Iron Range Archontophoenix. Named for Robert Tucker (1955-1992)

The first two species seem to be the ones with widely-used common names, as Daryl pointed out.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

I've got a thriving A. cunninghamiana by the house (unfazed by -3C and a lesser freeze last winter) and a 4' baby, plus three A. tuckeri,, which are recovering from leaf damage. They'll have full new sets of leaves later this summer.

A. cunninghamiana might not be the best palm (or more likely, the most practical palm) for the landscape trade, but mine have been really easy to grow, apart from the little one having a couple of leaves die--fungus infections? Really nice plants to buy young and watch grow. Fast.

[Kim]

I saw a label in a botanical garden: Step Palm. This may have been A. maxima? Anyone heard that one before? I haven't seen it anywhere else. Common names are not universal, rendering them useless, IMO. Yes, I've fallen into use of the acronym CIDP here on occasion, but I'm deeply ashamed of it.

[Tyrone]

Don't forget Picabeen is still popular

Never heard them called that in the west, but I like that one a lot.

I think it's Aboriginal for "water carrier".

Best regards

Tyrone

[Tropicgardener]

Don't forget Picabeen is still popular

Never heard them called that in the west, but I like that one a lot.

I think it's Aboriginal for "water carrier".

Best regards

Tyrone

I always call A. cunninghamiana 'Piccabeen' which to me is the prefered name here in Queensland and yes it is based on the Aboriginal word 'Picci' which is water carrier.

[Tropicgardener]

I call them WEEDS

What do you call Queens then? I remember in Balina a few years ago, someone told me the Queen was a weed. Nobody seemed worried about the Bangalow palm, which was named after a place just up the road from Balina I believe.

Queens are a catastrophe

[Tomw]

how about

Archontophoenix alexandrae var 'Beatrice' - King Alexander, Alexandra Palm, Alexander Palm

[oliver]

I have a few species with common name never heard before. The first one is an "I really hated the 29 degrees F for 36 hrs King Palm" Formerly know as A. purpurea

Edited July 11, 2011 by oliver

[oliver]

The second one is an "I really didn't appreciate 1/2" of ice on my leaves and crown shaft King" Formerly know as A. tuckeri.

BTW - in the background you can see a classical example of "Cocos - I made a good run for the past ten years, but had to give up the ghost after this past winter"

Edited July 11, 2011 by oliver

[Eric in Orlando]

I have always seen A. cunninghamiana as Piccabean or Bangalow Palm and A. alexandrae as the King Palm. Its also often called the Alexander Palm in FL but this can be confusing as Ptychosperma elegans has also been commonly called that in the past with much confusion.

Thus the needed use of Latin names to prevent confusion.

[Jonathan]

'King Palm' seems to be an entirely American concoction, I've never heard them called that here in Australia.

If you think about it, 'King Palm' doesn't even make any sense in regard to nomenclature because its latin, A. alexandrae, is named for Princess Alexandra of Denmark hence the common names here of 'Alex' or Alexandra Palm.

So maybe you should start calling it Princess Palm instead...though that might cause some confusion!

Better still call an Alex an Alex, and a Bangalow a Bangalow.

After all - if an American named Dwayne comes to visit Australia, we dont start calling him Neville...do we?

Cheers,

Jonathan

[Central Floridave]

Article from 1993 on PACSOA website puts king palm as a common name for the A.alexandrae.

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Archontophoenix/alexandrae1.html

Like what Dave-Vero listed as common names above. King palm for the Alexander. Where is John Dowe from?

[Jonathan]

Article from 1993 on PACSOA website puts king palm as a common name for the A.alexandrae.

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Archontophoenix/alexandrae1.html

Like what Dave-Vero listed as common names above. King palm for the Alexander. Where is John Dowe from?

Dowe is from Australia - but I suspect he was aiming his article at an international audience (PACSOA is widely consulted outside of Australia, I believe).

Listing a common name from another country (i.e. USA) doesn't change the fact that in its home country it aint called King Palm (in my experience)!

Cheers,

Jonathan

[Central Floridave]

The earliest I've been able to find the use of the common name of King Palm is from 1935.

The King Palms of Australia, Archontophoenix. Certain ptychospermate palms of horticulturists (Gentes herbarum) L.H.Bailey (Author) 1935

The latest is the 2010 Dowe book. Read page 5 here of economic botany:

http://www.publish.csiro.au/samples/Australian%20Palms%20Online%20Sample%20.pdf

[Walter John]

The earliest I've been able to find the use of the common name of King Palm is from 1935.

The King Palms of Australia, Archontophoenix. Certain ptychospermate palms of horticulturists (Gentes herbarum) L.H.Bailey (Author) 1935

The latest is the 2010 Dowe book. Read page 5 here of economic botany:

http://www.publish.csiro.au/samples/Australian%20Palms%20Online%20Sample%20.pdf

They are never called/referred to as "King" palms in Australia, never, I don't care what book or internet references are raised, whether it be John Dowe or Wal Donovan, besides John was writing a book for the international audience (which is predominatly American), hence the term King, I must admit I find it disappointing just the same he wrote that. I'm getting Jack of non-Australian Australians lately.

That's my point of view...

[Central Floridave]

Never say never. I can point you to some Queensland nursery webpage's that say the common name King palm. You shouldn't let it upset you that us yankees are taking over your palm names! (tongue in cheek).

I know people get upset with common names. But, why? It introduces people to palms and is like a gateway drug into collecting more palms. I've got all the Archontophoenix "king" palms growing in my yard. When people come over that may not be palm savvy, I use the term King for all of them. Sorry...it is easier that way...If someone does know what the difference between Archontophoenix then I do use the scientific name.

Besides, I like the President palm for sabal. Kind of catchy and maybe would sell better in nurseries (depending on what political party is in power at the time).

[Tomw]

Never say never. I can point you to some Queensland nursery webpage's that say the common name King palm. You shouldn't let it upset you that us yankees are taking over your palm names! (tongue in cheek).

I know people get upset with common names. But, why? It introduces people to palms and is like a gateway drug into collecting more palms. I've got all the Archontophoenix "king" palms growing in my yard. When people come over that may not be palm savvy, I use the term King for all of them. Sorry...it is easier that way...If someone does know what the difference between Archontophoenix then I do use the scientific name.

Besides, I like the President palm for sabal. Kind of catchy and maybe would sell better in nurseries (depending on what political party is in power at the time).

I agree with Floridave about use of the common names for the general populous. I still struggle with the scientific names, and the common names are so much easier. I have Name signs for all of my palms that have the name and the common name. My neighbors all think that I’m nuts for even having the signs, but they really help me remember the names. And when someone comes over and says “I love that palm, it’s a foxtail write?” I don’t say “well actually it’s a Wodyetia bifurcata palm”. Or if some one says that’s a cool palm, I’ll say “that’s a Hurricane Palm” and they’ll probably say cool I like that palm. Now if I had said “that’s a Dictyosperma ablum var furfuraceum” they will look at me like I’m trying to be some sort of pompous know-it-all ass. Even my wife says “stop showing off” when I give her the proper names of palms. I just wanted to give you a little perspective from a newbie, for what it’s worth.

[Bae72]

The earliest I've been able to find the use of the common name of King Palm is from 1935.

The King Palms of Australia, Archontophoenix. Certain ptychospermate palms of horticulturists (Gentes herbarum) L.H.Bailey (Author) 1935

The latest is the 2010 Dowe book. Read page 5 here of economic botany:

http://www.publish.csiro.au/samples/Australian%20Palms%20Online%20Sample%20.pdf

They are never called/referred to as "King" palms in Australia, never, I don't care what book or internet references are raised, whether it be John Dowe or Wal Donovan, besides John was writing a book for the international audience (which is predominatly American), hence the term King, I must admit I find it disappointing just the same he wrote that. I'm getting Jack of non-Australian Australians lately.

That's my point of view...

Why does the name Murdoch come to mind after reading this comment?

[Tyrone]

If I heard someone over here call an Archontophoenix a King Palm I'd either think he had been doing research on an American website, or was reading an American book, or was American. It doesn't really matter to me, but over here we just don't call them that. We don't call Syagrus Queen palms either, we call them Cocos due to a rather stupid nursery industry marketing ploy back in the 80's designed to make people think they were buying a coconut. They even went so far as to give it a false species name (Cocos plumosa) to sound even more authentic.

Just use Latin people, and translate for those who don't know Latin.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Mike in Nelson]

Article from 1993 on PACSOA website puts king palm as a common name for the A.alexandrae.

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Archontophoenix/alexandrae1.html

Like what Dave-Vero listed as common names above. King palm for the Alexander. Where is John Dowe from?

I always thought that the above was the case along with A cunninghamiana being a Bangalow.

[Adam from Oz]

If I heard someone over here call an Archontophoenix a King Palm I'd either think he had been doing research on an American website, or was reading an American book, or was American. It doesn't really matter to me, but over here we just don't call them that. We don't call Syagrus Queen palms either, we call them Cocos due to a rather stupid nursery industry marketing ploy back in the 80's designed to make people think they were buying a coconut. They even went so far as to give it a false species name (Cocos plumosa) to sound even more authentic.

Best regards

Tyrone

What he said. I have never heard an Australian refer to a King Palm. They are Bangalows down here (I call them, "Bangers"). Could show you the little tags with the common name from the Botanic Gardens. As for A. alexandrae, people in the know call them Alexandra Palms, while others calls them Alexandas.

You can call them Billy and Betty if you want.

Best.

me

[Central Floridave]

Not to beat a dead horse, but found this:

Archontophoenix H.Wendl. & Drude, Linnaea 39: 182, 211

(1875); from the Greek archon (king or ruler), and phoenix (palm).

[Jonathan]

Not to beat a dead horse, but found this:

Archontophoenix H.Wendl. & Drude, Linnaea 39: 182, 211

(1875); from the Greek archon (king or ruler), and phoenix (palm).

Thats a fair call actually Dave, but we will still call them Bangers down here...

I think I might put a patent on the name 'President Palm' - its quite catchy - you heard it first here folks!

Cheers,

Jonathan

[Tropicgardener]

'Bangers'.............well I haven't ever heard of that name !!!......obviously shortened 'Bangalow'

[Tyrone]

I've heard of Bangers before. Generally said in jest. Was thinking about Bangers and Mash, but I can't think of a palm you'd call a "Mash" palm. Maybe one that rotted away.