This has become a handsome medium sized palm with a nice colored crown shaft after leaf sheath drop. It was acquired as C. malcomberi in a 1 gal. container in late 2011 and still not convinced of the ID. 

Anyway, here are a few photos from last week.

Tim 

That’s a beauty Tim! I’ve only got a small seedling which is probably about 100 years off reaching the size of yours based on its current growth rate 🤣. 
 

Any reason you’re not convinced of the ID? It certainly looks like it could be C malcomberi to me. Definitely in that closely related group of palms with C malcomberi, C pilulifer and manajarensis (and recently C hamannii). 

Tim, the ones I have referenced online have had more robust trunks with abundant tomentum. This one has neither, but I suppose there is species variability. Hilo Jason also told me he has three palms he acquired as C. malcomberi and is perplexed as well. This is certainly something I won’t be losing any sleep over.

Tim

Here is the supermodel shovel for some scale.

Tim

Beautiful palm. Hmm I see what you mean. Almost looks like C pilulifer but not quite right for that either I think. 
 

There’s a bit of a key in the recent article on C hamannii of these related species:

https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-09/Chrysalidocarpus hamannii PalmArbor FINAL 29 Sept 2025.pdf
 

Honestly though I’m not sure how useful it is. The descriptions are often based on limited samples and may not fully take into account the variability of each species especially when different climates in cultivation are factored in. Also, the increasingly strong possibility of hybridising within Chrysalidocarpus which is even discussed in the article. Interestingly to me, all of the species in the article of which your palm is clearly within the group, are described as having waxy white or partially waxy white leaf bases whereas your palm does not appear to (or perhaps only slightly). 

Mahalo Tim!

Tim

Tim,

I meant to take a pic of mine yesterday, but forgot my camera, and when I found it , the battery was dead.

Anyhow, I purchased seeds under this name in July 2007 from RPS. I finally planted two out in April 2014. One died and was replaced by my remaining non-growing one 2 years later (has actually started growing). Meanwhile, the original palm has reached a height of maybe 12 to 15 feet, not as tall as yours. The overall appearance is similar to yours, but the leaf bases are "waxy white" as cited by Tim Brissy. 

My palm has flowered and I collected a batch of fruits two years ago. The fruits were tiny, about 0.2 inch in diameter, but slightly oval. I have a pot of seedlings, not yet quite large enough to separate and pot up.

I will attempt to get a pic if it (ever) stops raining long enough.

Thanks Mike. Yeah, if it ever stops raining……ha ha.

I’m beginning to grow webs between my toes. 👀

Tim

OK, here are three pics of my palm:

And here are three habitat pictures taken by Jeff Marcus, I think in October 2008:

Interesting topic, thanks for bringing it up.

 

Thanks Mike. Boy, they look so different, both yours and the ones in habitat.

Do you have photos of your C. mananjarensis?

Tim

You got me on this one Tim, shes a beautiful lady! Lucky Hawaii growers!

Tim,

When I read your request about mananjarensis pics, I was puzzled. When I took another look at my mananjarensises, I began to understand - it's because of their resemblance to the malcomberis (maybe) that we have been discussing. Of my three, planted April 2013 and grown from seeds sowed in April 2007, one has grown very tall, the second is healthy looking but only about 2/3 as tall, and the third was a non-grower that I just wanted to get rid of (but later started growing).

Here is the tall one (with an Attalea maripa to its left):

Here is the middle sized one:

And here is the formerly non-growing one (my tractor is behind it):

So what do you think?