I am continually amazed at the diversity in the Dypsis genus. How are D decipiens, D lastelliana, D pachyramea, and D pinnatifrons even in the same genus? I know classification of palms or really anything has to do with flower structure and more recently DNA, but at least the appearance (phenotype) of these different Dypsis is so strikingly different that's it's hard to imagine they are that  closely related. 

What other genus is so diverse? Are there a lot of studies going on in the Dypsis genus to look at the current classifications? Not that I am pulling for the genus to be split up into 10 different genera or anything, it gets confusing keeping up with all the changes in classification

Geonoma is pretty varied too as is Pinanga but neither compete with Dypsis.

 

The most diverse genus is Calamus with more than 370 species.

I would have to agree with Dypsis probably being the most diverse genus. The meaning of "diverse" is "things that are very different from each other". Calamus may have more than 370 species, which probably makes it the most numerous genus when it comes to number of species, and no offense, but when it comes to diversity it's way behind Dypsis.

Actually it looks like rather than split up the genus there have already been a number of genera that have been united into Dypsis due to some studies.   It's a fascinating genus. 

The problem is the (not existing, verifiable) definition of “genus” in botany: Why don’t e.g. Butia, Jubaea, Parajubaea, Syagrus not belong to one genus although there are so called “intergeneric” hybrids? The same with Veitchia, Normanbya, Wodyetia, etc. …

2 hours ago, Pal Meir said:

The problem is the (not existing, verifiable) definition of “genus” in botany: Why don’t e.g. Butia, Jubaea, Parajubaea, Syagrus not belong to one genus although there are so called “intergeneric” hybrids? The same with Veitchia, Normanbya, Wodyetia, etc. …

Good point Pal

I would also agree that dypsis would be the most diverse.

Hydriastele is also pretty diverse? ...small understory palms, tall canopy palms, clumping palms, varied leaf structures etc. 

Dypsis ,Hydriastele,Geonoma, Pinanga 

11 hours ago, bgl said:

I would have to agree with Dypsis probably being the most diverse genus. The meaning of "diverse" is "things that are very different from each other". Calamus may have more than 370 species, which probably makes it the most numerous genus when it comes to number of species, and no offense, but when it comes to diversity it's way behind Dypsis.

With that definition, I would definitely agree. And on top of that, Dypsis is definitely my favourite genus.

Another very diverse genus is Chamaedorea. A litte less maybe Licuala, but it is the only fan-shaped palm mentioned so far.

Green, red or mottled leaves. Solitary and clumpers, monsters and dwarfs, crownshafts or not.  Big spread of forms.  Reminds me of one my favorite topics on palmtalk, Dypsis vs Areca/pinanga.

On 1/9/2016, 2:08:09, bgl said:

I would have to agree with Dypsis probably being the most diverse genus. The meaning of "diverse" is "things that are very different from each other". Calamus may have more than 370 species, which probably makes it the most numerous genus when it comes to number of species, and no offense, but when it comes to diversity it's way behind Dypsis.

Bo is absolutely right on this; with having a palm like Dypsis minuta to Dypsis Bejofo(size) and Dypsis aquatilis compared to Dypsis decipiens (water needs) as well as Dypsis crinita to Dypsis procera (overall looks). When you get into seed differences, you really see diversity--so mush that I wonder if this genus will one day be split up...

Syagrus is also a genus with huge variety among the species. Most of the several dwarf species from Central Brazil are totally different from the tall and midsize ones...also the leaves appearence. Now the genus Syagrus also includes the former Lytocaryum species. It is also one of the most widespread genera, occuring in North, Central and South America, as well as in several islands of the Caribbean, each species having its own characteristics.

I don't think all the "cocoids" combined even come close. That would include, Cocos, Syagrus, Parajube, Jube, and others.

None of them have crownshafts; some of the Dypsis do, some don't. Some of the Dypsis have hair! Most don't. Some branch, others don't. It goes on and on and on.

Protean diversity!

Calamus differ, like how? Like their weensy little flowers have a few sepals or many? Not even close. Chamadoreas, neither.

I vote the former genus Cocos (= “Butiinae“), including Cocos, Syagus (+Lytocaryum), Butia, Jubaea, Parajubaea, likely also Allagoptera, Polyandrococos, maybe still others. Coming studies (???) and experiments with hybridization (!!!) will show that all these “genera” belong to only one genus.