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Alexandrae or Cunninghamiana?

Than

By Than
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

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Than Veteran

Than

Posted
Posted

Can anyone ID this specimen? The horticulturalist who sells them didnt know. Thank you! 

 

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previously known as ego

PalmCode Proficient

PalmCode

Posted
Posted

They look like Alexandrae to me... Hard to see the silver on the underside of the leaflets from photos though.

DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

@Than I agree with @PalmCode; maybe get better pictures of leaf undersides.

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

Than Veteran

Than

Posted
  • Author
Posted

OK I'll go take closer shots. I didn't know about the silver underside. 

The lady there said they are too sensitive to cold so probably Alexandrae. 

  • Upvote 1

previously known as ego

Harry’s Palms Grand Master

Harry’s Palms

Posted
Posted

The Alexandrea are usually a bit darker green but that doesn’t mean as much as the silver undersides . It is easier to see on younger palms when you gently fold the leaf to compare under side to top side . Also Cunninghamiana generally has some mottling around the leaf bases. That and the fronds are more upright and larger on the Alexandrea like the ones in your photo. I would agree that’s what they probably are . They should grow in 9b , I would think . Harry

  • Upvote 1
meridannight Community Regular

meridannight

Posted
Posted

I'm not seeing any silver on the undersides at all. On any of the pictures and at least one image has quite a clear view. Which would mean they definitely are not alexandrae. 

A. alexandrae has clear silver undersides. It's not something you have to think about if it is or isn't, or search for under a magnifying glass. If it's not there, it's not there, and it's something else. 

 

  • Upvote 1

Species I'm growing from seed: Verschaffeltia splendida, Chrysalidocarpus leptocheilos, Licuala grandis, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, Johannesteijsmannia altifrons, Bentinckia condapanna, Livistona benthamii, Licuala mattanensis 'Mapu', Beccariophoenix madagascariensis, Chrysalidocarpus decaryi. 

aabell Community Regular

aabell

Posted
Posted
51 minutes ago, meridannight said:

I'm not seeing any silver on the undersides at all. On any of the pictures and at least one image has quite a clear view. Which would mean they definitely are not alexandrae. 

A. alexandrae has clear silver undersides. It's not something you have to think about if it is or isn't, or search for under a magnifying glass. If it's not there, it's not there, and it's something else. 

 

Disagree, the silvery scales are not always obvious in photos depending on the lighting, especially in a case like the last photo where you are looking up and the leaf is backlit. Like Harry said, you want to fold one of the leaves over for a direct comparison. 

I also think the crownshaft from here looks more like alexandrae than cunninghamiana but that isn't definitive. 

Attaching photos of silver leaf of alexandrae and scaly pale green crownshaft of a small cunninghamiana for comparison. 

 

PXL_20230430_130924891~2.jpg

PXL_20240814_162859777~3.jpg

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James B Veteran

James B

Posted
Posted

Those look like Alexandrae. Cunninghamiana does not have a smooth green crown shaft like the plans in your photo. At that size Bangalows are covered in black scales on the crown shaft. There are hybrids though which can throw things off. 

  • Upvote 2
meridannight Community Regular

meridannight

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, aabell said:

Disagree, the silvery scales are not always obvious in photos depending on the lighting, especially in a case like the last photo where you are looking up and the leaf is backlit. Like Harry said, you want to fold one of the leaves over for a direct comparison. 

Photos are photos. The person owning this palm has the opportunity to check in person and there is no question about silver undersides if they really are there. They don't need a microscope to see it. 
 

  • Upvote 3

Species I'm growing from seed: Verschaffeltia splendida, Chrysalidocarpus leptocheilos, Licuala grandis, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, Johannesteijsmannia altifrons, Bentinckia condapanna, Livistona benthamii, Licuala mattanensis 'Mapu', Beccariophoenix madagascariensis, Chrysalidocarpus decaryi. 

DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

@Than 

Another thought: Alexander palms are silver on the backs of the leaves and cunninghamiana are green with “ramenta” or hairs on the backs of the leaves.  If these palms have both, they’re hybrids. I know: I have one that’s like 16 M tall after about 23 years in the ground. 

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Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

Than Veteran

Than

Posted
  • Author
Posted

These palms are chlorotic. Could this be why the silver undersides aren't there?

previously known as ego

meridannight Community Regular

meridannight

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Than said:

These palms are chlorotic. Could this be why the silver undersides aren't there?

No. Silver undersides don't disappear. If they are not there, then it's not alexandrae. 

  • Like 1

Species I'm growing from seed: Verschaffeltia splendida, Chrysalidocarpus leptocheilos, Licuala grandis, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, Johannesteijsmannia altifrons, Bentinckia condapanna, Livistona benthamii, Licuala mattanensis 'Mapu', Beccariophoenix madagascariensis, Chrysalidocarpus decaryi. 

Than Veteran

Than

Posted
  • Author
Posted
3 minutes ago, meridannight said:

No. Silver undersides don't disappear. If they are not there, then it's not alexandrae. 

Thanks. I'll post better shots soon.

previously known as ego

tim_brissy_13 Grand Master

tim_brissy_13

Posted
Posted

Definitely A alexandrae (or, unlikely A maxima, tuckeri or myolensis but definitely not A cunninghamiana. Photos with different lighting will show the silver abaxial surface. Lack of ramenta automatically rules out A cunninghamiana, and the crownshaft colour is consistent with alexandrae rather than cunninghamiana which has speckled brown through it. 

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Tim Brisbane

Patterson Lakes, bayside Melbourne, Australia

Rarely Frost

2005 Minimum: 2.6C,  Maximum: 44C

2005 Average: 17.2C, warmest on record.

James B Veteran

James B

Posted
Posted

Agree with Tim👍🏼

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