Asterogyne spicata

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Figure 1. A. spicata - a very attractive cultivated specimen.

Common Names:

Palmiche (local name)

Distribution & Habitat:

It is endemic to Venezuela, in the forests of the humid Guatopo National Park and Mount Bachelor in Miranda State, at 500-600 meters elevation.

Description:

It is a small under-story plant, (altho it can reach up to 8 m (25 ft) tall in habitat) with a 4 cm (1.75 inch) trunk. The leaves are dark green, simple, notched, with silvery green undersides, and up to 1.2 m (4 ft) long. The new leaves are a very attractive dark red colour.

General:

The genus Asterogyne is monoecious, with male and female flowers on the same plant.

Cultivation:

A. spicata is an small, elegant, solitary palm, very well adapted for horticulture. It requires warm, sheltered, conditions with a rich, moist, but well drained soil. It makes a good indoor plant. The seeds take 3-4 months to germinate and the seedlings are relatively slow growing.

Contributed by:

Ian Edwards (Figure 1)

External Links:

Kew, PalmWeb, IUCN, ARKIVE, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr, PalmTalk