Cultivated Sabinaria magnifica flowering

[Rick Kelley]

Today I was working in the garden and stopped to admire the Sabinaria magnifica that seems to be very happy. It is now taller than me, maybe 2 m high. I was surprised shocked to find two inflorescences buried under the leaves. The tree does not even have a clear trunk yet, so I was not expecting flowers for many more years. Of course, flowers are not the same as viable seed. I have lots of palms that have been flowering for years and never produced fruit. I'm looking at you, Marojejya. BUT you never get seeds without first having flowers! One step at a time. The lower inflorescence is twisted and seems to be aborting, but the next higher one looks very healthy with open flowers. No sign of bees around. Maybe I should get a small paintbrush and try a little artificial insemination?

I'm no taxonomist, but I think these inflorescences vaguely resemble Kerridoxa male flowers. Kerridoxa blooming season just ended at my place. The overall appearance of the tree is very similar to Kerridoxa, but with the leaves split in half. I know they come from widely separated geographical locations, but it is odd.

Aborted flowers lower center.

View from other side

Anyone else out there with flowers or maybe even some fruit?

[happypalms]

Wow photo of the whole palm please if you can. Amazing it’s flowering for you good score it gives the palm great hope for being in cultivation. I have about 7 sabinara one in a 180mm container is going to be planted after my winter if all goes good.

[JD in the OC]

Very cool! Yes, let's see the whole palm! 🌴

[realarch]

Rick, what a surprise! I can imagine your shock at the discovery. I remember seeing this plant in your garden back in July and how robust it was, twice the size of my specimen sulking in the back garden. Yours has more sun exposure which might be a key for more vigerous growth. 

At a quick glance, It does look like a flowering Kerriodoxa. Let’s see if it can produce viable seed. 

Tim

[John hovancsek]

I herd the ones in Thailand have been flowering but no seed yet

[Rick Kelley]

 5 gallon (20 L) bucket for scale.

[Cindy Adair]

That is one stunning palm Rick!

[KrisKupsch]

On 1/25/2025 at 6:43 AM, John hovancsek said:

I herd the ones in Thailand have been flowering but no seed yet

Same. Must have been a very early Thai-Colombia connection on the seed.