New Palm Discoveries

[_Keith]

Anyone following this story?

"Foja mountains rainforest in eastern Papua province in a June expedition, said U.S.-based Conservation International, which organized the trip along with the Indonesian Institute of Science."

"A 2006 expedition to the same stretch of jungle — dubbed by Conservation International as a "Lost World" because until then humans had rarely visited it — unearthed scores of exotic new species of palms, butterflies and palms."

From another article

"Plants

A total area of about one million hectares of pristine, ancient, tropical, humid forest containing at least 550 plants species, many previously unknown and including five new species of palms. One of the most spectacular discoveries was a so far unidentified species of rhododendron, which has a white scented flower almost six inches across, equalling the largest recorded rhododendron flower."

www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317105,00.html

[Jeff Searle]

This story made the national news last year as well as the newspaper. It was pretty interesting stuff from what I remember.

Jeff

[JakeK]

60 Minutes recently sent one of the journalists to the Foja Mountains. I think it was the first video footage from the cloud forest, and I was blown away by the beauty of this cloud forest. It was very different from the New World cloud forests, and the naturalist studying this ecosystem said it probably has remained in the same state as it is today for at least the last 10,000 years, completely untouched by humans, so it is also like a time capsule.

It's a ten day hike to the forest from the bog where the helicopter lands, so this is probably one of the most remote places on earth. All the new discoveries from this forest are very exciting.

[Tad]

not to be difficult, why couldnt the helicopter fly closer to the forest?

[_Keith]

Found this article also while searching.  A complete new palm genus has been discovered.  

"Researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ( UK ) and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (USA) announce the discovery of a new palm from Indonesian New Guinea. While new species of plants and animals are routine discoveries, a new genus, the classification rank above species level, is a major scientific find and represents an entirely new branch of the palm family tree. The palm came to light during a collaborative expedition to the foothills of the remote Wondiwoi Mountains in western New Guinea involving Kew botanists and collaborators from Universitas Negeri Papua and the Indonesian National Herbarium."

www.kew.org/press/newpalmgenus.html

[bgl]

I saw that program on 60 minutes last night (16 Dec). Fascinating stuff! And some of those birds were just outrageous! But I don't think it was a ten day hike from where the helicopter landed? I thought it was a ten day hike from the village where they left from? And the open bog was the only place where the helicopter could land, because everything else was covered in dense forest.

[Tad]

I guess  roping in or using a basket would be tooo much:)

[paulgila]

anyone know if the new palm has been described at all?

even a cursory description of it?a new genus of palm is certainly something to be excited about!

[_Keith]

(pohonkelapa @ Dec. 17 2007,21:35)

QUOTE

anyone know if the new palm has been described at all?

even a cursory description of it?a new genus of palm is certainly something to be excited about!

From the article, but this was it.

"Dransfieldia micrantha is an elegant palm with pinnate fronds and numerous slender cane-like stems. It bears small purple flowers, followed by olive-shaped black fruits. The palm grows in scattered populations throughout the dense rainforest of northwestern New Guinea, in the Indonesian province of Papua.

“

[paulgila]

thanks,keith!

[_Keith]

(pohonkelapa @ Dec. 17 2007,21:43)

QUOTE

thanks,keith!

OK, I am confused.  Scratch was I just put down.  I thought this was new, but just found an old post from Jeff that he had been growing and selling this for 5 years.   I think I have my articles confused.

[paulgila]

now ya tell me!

[chris.oz]

New palms were described from the "lost World  expedition"  but Dransfieldia micrantha was a palm previously placed in as many as 3 genera at various times but now found to be deserving of its own genus.   Its not a new discovery.... I think it may have been discovered over 100 years ago !

[PalmGuyWC]

I saw the 60 Minutes segment too. Incredable birds never before seen and with exquisite color and habits. I was desperately looking for palms in the background but most of the segment was devoted to birds. In the short time they were there and found 5 new palms, there must be many more yet undiscovered. I wonder what else was in that TV footage that we didn't see.

Dick

[Jeff Searle]

I WANT to go! We need to put a trip together,

Jeff

[PalmGuyWC]

Hey Jeff,

You set up an expedition and go and get lots of pics and TV footage.  Then come back and show all. (With lots of palm seeds, of course).  I don't rough it to well. You have to pass the test with the natives first, and they used to eat people!

Dick

[BS Man about Palms]

(keiththibodeaux @ Dec. 17 2007,19:09)

QUOTE

(pohonkelapa @ Dec. 17 2007,21:43)

QUOTE

thanks,keith!

OK, I am confused.  Scratch was I just put down.  I thought this was new, but just found an old post from Jeff that he had been growing and selling this for 5 years.   I think I have my articles confused.

I was scrolling down and thought I was loosing it. As I was reading the article, all I could think was Jeff had some for sale!!!  

[BS Man about Palms]

(Jeff Searle @ Dec. 18 2007,07:52)

QUOTE

I WANT to go! We need to put a trip together,

Jeff

If I can wear a cool hat like you Jeff, I'll go!  

[cfkingfish]

I believe the palms are from existing genera (Pholidocarpus, possibly Orania), but MAY be new species.

[paulgila]

does this mean we're planning an EXPEDITION?

i'll dust off my pith helmet for the "pithy" commentary!

[Dave-Vero]

The book to read would be Tim Flannery's "Throwim Way Leg".  Since he's a mammologist, it's worth mentioning the newly discovered giant rat from the Indonesian side of New Guinea.