Bipinnate plumose leaves

[Geoff]

Now that Caryotas ophiopelis and zebrina have grown large enough in cultivation, an interesting leaf shape is becoming apparent that I was not aware of until I saw these in Hawaii a few weeks ago.... turns out these two similar species (separated physically only by one having leathery leaflets- C zebrina, and the other 'normal' leaflets- C ophiopelis) develop, with maturity, a plumose leaf (sort of)... in other words, the bipinnate leaflets these Caryotas come off in two different planes from the rachis... no other Caryota I have seen does that, that I know of at least. Younger palms of these two species do not do this... only when they mature do they develop this biplanar leaf shape... making these leaves some of the most complex in the entire Areceae... First 4 shots are of C zebrina, rest are of C ophiopelis, all in Jeff's collection.

[tjwalters]

Beautiful!