Trachycarpus ravenii, a new species from Laos.

[Explorer]

They have recently found a new species of Trachycarpus in Laos. Its named Trachycarpus ravenii.

Its found at an altitude of 1600 till arround 1800 meters.

Here a link to more info and pictures.

http://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm ... 99385.html

Alexander

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Nice! Almost looks like a copernicia with all the horizontal leaves. Hopefully seeds will become available soon.

[stevethegator]

I knew they'd find more trachy species there! (Laos/Vietnam area). I wonder what's still hiding in Myanmar, or in some of the less explored Himalayan regions like parts of Nepal and Bhuatn. Or Southern China even

[Explorer]

Birma and China are still places I want to visit one day. And when lucky maybe some nice new Trachycarpus to be found.

Alexander

[Dave-Vero]

Here's a climate diagram for Vientiane showing the hot, wet summer and dry winter. This should be pretty close to the climate where T. ravenii is native:

[Dave-Vero]

And here, Orlando. Definitely gets cooler, and not so dry.

[Dave-Vero]

Miami's a reasonably good match:

[Dave-Vero]

Near La Habana. Same Küchler climate as Vientiane.

[monkeyranch]

From some sort of highland subtropical climate similar to T. oreophilus (N. Thailand) or T. geminisectus (N. Vietnam). The weather at 1900 meters is going to be cooler than Vientiene and it's just north enough in latitude to occasionally be affected by northern cold air masses from across China. Was interesting to find out there are pine forests in the N. Vietnam highlands.

Here's a link to the Anthony Bourdain episode in Laos. He arrives in Vientiene and then goes up to into the mountains where it is noticeably colder and visits the Plain of Jars.

Looks like an interesting new Trachy. Information seems quite limited.

[Eric in Orlando]

This is a really cool looking Trach.

[Alberto]

They have recently found a new species of Trachycarpus in Laos. Its named Trachycarpus ravenii.

Its found at an altitude of 1600 till arround 1800 meters.

Here a link to more info and pictures.

http://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm ... 99385.html

Alexander

Interesting! Probably not the cold hardest species..... But Vientiane is located at +- 170m altitude and this Trachy grows at 1600- 1800m....

[Toby]

Here's a climate diagram for Vientiane showing the hot, wet summer and dry winter. This should be pretty close to the climate where T. ravenii is native:

You should deduct 0.4 to 0.5°C for every 100m increase in elevation, so the accurate temperatures at 1700m would roughly be 7°C cooler than Vientiane.

Unfortunately I find the evidence in the paper for Trachycarpus ravenii to be considered separate from T. oreophilus rather scant. A similar case as in T. ukhrulensis (the Naga Hills/Manipur/Burma Trachycarpus).

Best, TOBY

[Explorer]

From some sort of highland subtropical climate similar to T. oreophilus (N. Thailand) or T. geminisectus (N. Vietnam). The weather at 1900 meters is going to be cooler than Vientiene and it's just north enough in latitude to occasionally be affected by northern cold air masses from across China. Was interesting to find out there are pine forests in the N. Vietnam highlands.

Here's a link to the Anthony Bourdain episode in Laos. He arrives in Vientiene and then goes up to into the mountains where it is noticeably colder and visits the Plain of Jars.

Looks like an interesting new Trachy. Information seems quite limited.

There are also pineforests in Thailand, Phu Kradung for example. With Nepenthes growing underneath it. And even on Sumatra you can find native pinetrees, Pinus merkusii. For example near lake Toba.

Alexander

[Tobias Valentin]

Unfortunately I find the evidence in the paper for Trachycarpus ravenii to be considered separate from T. oreophilus rather scant. A similar case as in T. ukhrulensis (the Naga Hills/Manipur/Burma Trachycarpus).

Best, TOBY

Would be interesting to hear some more thoughts on this.

They certainly look much alike.

[Alberto]

Some more info ?

[Cikas]

Any updates about this new species? 

[Zach K]

Still waiting on more info too 😐