After a morning of diving in Raja Ampat in the Coral Triangle and a light lunch, I glance at the messy group of very tall palms behind the employee soccer pitch and do a double take. Wait… no, really?  Yes! Unmistakable! An entire stand of Metroxylon, possibly vitiense.  😮 Yes! Seedlings, juveniles, mature palms and a few in decline while holding the remains of the terminal infructescence.  

WOW, any chance of some shots to the Wallaceodoxa raja-ampat ? 

45 minutes ago, Husain said:

WOW, any chance of some shots to the Wallaceodoxa raja-ampat ? 

I asked about that before I came. The island where Wallaceodoxa grows is too far away, out of range for the boats at this resort. 🫤

Stop stop to the driver! I want to take a photograph! That palm is beautiful! That will be the order of the day travelling around😄

3 hours ago, Kim said:

I asked about that before I came. The island where Wallaceodoxa grows is too far away, out of range for the boats at this resort. 🫤

I had never heard of Wallaceodoxa before but going by it's location I am guessing it's near the Wallace line. (no monkeys, tigers or elephants beyond this point)  What a treat to see full sized Metroxylon in situ.  I have never tried to grow them here, a zone push too far.  Keep the tour reports rolling in. They save me a fortune on air fares.

Peachy

53 minutes ago, peachy said:

I had never heard of Wallaceodoxa before but going by it's location I am guessing it's near the Wallace line. (no monkeys, tigers or elephants beyond this point)  What a treat to see full sized Metroxylon in situ.  I have never tried to grow them here, a zone push too far.  Keep the tour reports rolling in. They save me a fortune on air fares.

Peachy

Hi, 

Peachy, you added a very important term to this subject - the Wallace line. I strongly recommend to everyone on this forum to check about its characteristics regarding the flora east and west of it. It is absolutely fascinating how nature may differ within such a small radius. (Please forgive me for chiming in unasked, but I remember when entering university and starting the subject of Southeast Asian Studies, it was one of the first topics we were asked to do research about.)

@Kim, 

a great follow up - the Metroxylon species is on top of my most-wanted list, unfortunately I couldn't get a hand on its seeds yet.

It is nice from you to keep us updated, even if you are occupied by other interesting activities. 

All the best to you when traveling to your next destinations, stay safe and please take your time when dating us up.

Lars 

Boy, you don’t see that everyday! Thanks Kim for the update. 

The Wallace Line, a fascinating, almost unbelievable observation  by a hero of mine.  

Tim

So glad to hear from you Kim while you are enjoying another exotic destination!

Likely many of us, I wish I could experience first hand that vision of a surprise Metroxylon forest!

Thanks!
 

 

 

8 hours ago, realarch said:

Boy, you don’t see that everyday! Thanks Kim for the update. 

The Wallace Line, a fascinating, almost unbelievable observation  by a hero of mine.  

Tim

Ooh I am a hero, that's a first !!

 

I feel like I should recognize these palms. But I don’t. Maybe my brain is waterlogged after too many days 20 meters underwater. This is in the Fam Islands. Anyone know?

 Below: the view from this spot

On 5/19/2025 at 11:56 AM, peachy said:

Ooh I am a hero, that's a first !!

 

Very clever indeed Miss @peachy, now I have to write a hundred lines, Today  I learnt about the walice line from Miss peachy in social studies! That’ll teach me for mucking up in class wont it, that plus little lunch detention picking up all the rubbish on scab duties! An age old school tradition 🤣

The one is giving Euterpe vibes and the other is giving satakentia

Hydriastele procera and Hydriastele costata would be my guesses. 

Thanks guys. Given the location I’d have to rule out Euterpe and probably Satakentia, too.  I will look up those Hydriastele, try to learn something. 🙂

On 5/18/2025 at 12:30 PM, happypalms said:

Stop stop to the driver! I want to take a photograph! That palm is beautiful! That will be the order of the day travelling around😄

👍😁

On 5/25/2025 at 1:46 AM, John hovancsek said:

The one is giving Euterpe vibes and the other is giving satakentia

Isn't Euterpe a southamerican species?

On 5/26/2025 at 12:36 AM, Than said:

Isn't Euterpe a southamerican species?

Yes -- that's why I ruled it out. The relaxed leaflets have the "vibe" of Euterpe, but these palms are growing in a wild area in Indonesia.

@Kim, Do you think it could be an Orania sp. ?

6 hours ago, Hurricanepalms said:

@Kim, Do you think it could be an Orania sp. ?

That didn't occur to me, but I suppose it is possible. I'm not very familiar with mature Orania, and the 2 I grow do not resemble those in my photo above, but there are several Orania species. Mine *might* be O. trispatha, but I can't say for sure.

Hey Kim, Kyle’s ID might be on the money. Check out Hydriastele costata in your Palms of New Guinea book, looks like it might be endemic to that region.

Tim

24 minutes ago, realarch said:

Hey Kim, Kyle’s ID might be on the money. Check out Hydriastele costata in your Palms of New Guinea book, looks like it might be endemic to that region.

Tim

Yes, Kyle is very good with palm IDs.