Looking for obscure Rhapis and Chamaedorea species

[Mandrew968]

I doubt there are many obscure Rhapis around(I have subtilis, robusta, humilis, laoensis, multifida and super dwarf) but I am sure there are a few locals that may have some interesting Chamaedoreas they may want to sell or trade. I have only about 15 or so species(tepejilote, geonomiformis, adscendens, ernesti-agustii, deckeriana, brachypoda, neuroclamys, fragrans, metallica, radicalis, glaucifolia, benziei, hooperiana, woodsoniana, pinnatifrons, oblongata and some of the common ones) of Chamaedoreas so please let me know what you might have, if you are willing to part with it... Thanks in advance!

[buccaneers37]

It looks like we have some of the same tastes. I have 13 different chamaedorea (if you count the regular & trunking form of radicalis, then it's 14). When Ken came up for my last party he brought me a nice stolonifera from Redlands, if you don't have one of those already. As far as the Rhapis, you need to try to find a R. 'Alicia'. It's a cross between laosensis and multifida that was produced out in California. It has a nice sheen to the leaves and I was told it grows fairly quickly. I fell in love with it when I first saw it. I got mine from Catherine Presley (Creekside), but maybe someone down there carries it. It is definately worth getting if you can find it..

[Mandrew968]

I have some Rhapis excelsa hybrids too; one is crazy fast and has a super shiny leaf. I have not rushed out to get stolonifera because I feel brachypoda and it are of negligable difference(I am not rushing out to get tenella when I have 3 geonomiformis). I purchased a Livistona robinsoniana a while back and now it's basically a rotundifolia, now that they are both rotundifolius... sometimes a palm can be growing great and you lose it to a name change!

[MAPU 1]

I have Cham. tuerckheimii in 1 gal. pots.

[Mandrew968]

I have Cham. tuerckheimii in 1 gal. pots.

I think my friend, Ken(not Mr. Johnson) goes out to see you about once a month. He has one I saw in his garden that looks flawless(he said it's about 3-4 years old from being planted). I believe he picked up a cowellii from you, for me, last time he was up that way. Thanks for the reminder--I need one...

[Jeff Searle]

Andrew,

If interested, I grow the Rhapis sp. Alicia. I got many seed a couple of times from my very good friend, Louis Hooper in California. He is credited with making this cross and I believe named it after his daughter.

[Mandrew968]

Thank you for the offer. I am much more interested in species such as siamensis and vidalii--I saw one variety that only had one leaflet per frond/branch. Anyone ever see something like this?

[Darold Petty]

Rhapis x 'Alicia' was hybridized by Louis Hooper from La Habra, California. (just down the hill from 'DoomsDave').

The parentage is R. laoensis (seed) x humilis (pollen). Alicia is Louis' grandaughter. I just spoke with Louis to confirm this information. I have one plant and it's really special !

Louis also made R. multifida x humilis. He did not assign any name to this cross, but it is also a great plant.

[buccaneers37]

Thanks for the correction.

[Darold Petty]

Weird beers are the best beers!

[Mandrew968]

I can now add Chamaedorea elatior to my list of 'haves'.