Dypsis pinnatifrons

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Figure 1. Attractive young plant of D. pinnatifrons.

Synonymy:

Dypsis gracilis, Dypsis sambiranensis, plus many others.

Distribution & Habitat:

Widely spread in lowland and montaine rainforest along the east and north-west coast of Madagascar.

Description:

A very attractive palm, up to 12 metres tall, but with quite a thin stem. The leaves, up to about 2m long are dark maroon when young, then turn a dark, shiny green as they mature. They can be widely spread over the stem, which gives the head of the palm a very distinctive character.

General:

A very popular collectors palm, although it should be far more widely grown, given its attractiveness, and ease of culture. Very good for group planting.

Culture:

Prefers shade as a youngster, altho it can take full sun as its gets older. Likes the standard moist, but well drained potting mix.

Reference:

The Palms of Madagascar by Dr. John Dransfield, and Dr. Henk J. Beentje.

Figure 2. D. pinnatifrons with a nice red new leaf.

Figure 3. D. pinnatifrons with a dark red new leaf.

Figure 4. A group of mature D. pinnatifrons atNote the bushy head of leaves, and full sun position.

Figure 5. A nice head of leaves. Note the cupped leaflets, and red new leaf.

Figure 6. D. pinnatifrons inflorescence.

Figure 1. D. pinnatifrons in habitat, Madagascar

Figure 2. Young D. pinnatifrons.

Figure 3. Young D. pinnatifrons, metallic form.

Figure 4. D. pinnatifrons in habitat, Madagascar

Contributed by:

Colin Wilson (Figure 1,2&3)

External Links:

Kew, PalmWeb, IUCN, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr, PalmTalk