Chambeyronia macrocarpa

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Figure 1. C. macrocarpa in Sydney

Common Names:[edit]

Blushing Palm,
Red Leaf Palm,
Red Feather Palm,
Flame Thrower Palm

Distribution & Habitat:[edit]

New Caledonian rainforest.

Description:[edit]

Large feather palm to about 20m, with a spectacular, bright red new leaf, which stays red for up to 10 days. The leaflets are also very wide, thick, and shiny so even without a new leaf it is very distinctive There are several well known varieties/cultivars of this palm.

1) var hookeri: This variety has a distinctly reddish tinge to the leaves as well as a very yellow crown shaft. Prefers more shade than the normal C. macrocarpa i.e. it won't take full sun.

2) Watermelon form: This form has an attractive yellow streaking on the crown shaft (see below).

General:[edit]

The most popular of the New Caledonian palms in cultivation.

Culture:[edit]

Full sun/light shade, moist, well drained (tho isn't averse to wet feet). Easily the fastest of the New Caledonian palms.

File:C hookerii.jpg
Figure 2. Close-up of the new leaf
Figure 3. Close-up of the new leaf
Figure 5. C. macrocarpa inflorescence close-up.
Figure 4. 'Watermelon' form of C. macrocarpa
Figure 6. C. macrocarpa inflorescence.

Contributed by:[edit]

Ian Edwards (Figures 1&2)
Mike Gray (Figure 4)
Jason Skelly (Figure 5&6).


External Links:[edit]

Kew, PalmWeb, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr, PalmTalk