Actinokentia divaricata

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Figure 1. A. divaricata in habitat, New Caledonia.

Synonyms:

Kentiopsis divaricata

Habitat:

Understory palm of wet forest slopes, from 60 to 1000m (200'-3000'), southern La Grande-Terre, New Caledonia..

Description:

A slender feather palm to 7m, with a yellow crownshaft, and 4-6 leaves.

General:

The new leaf has intense colouration which is not commonly found in palms, either in shade or sun demanding species. The ecological value of such a phenomena is little studied but it is suggested that it is a mechanism to repel leaf-chewing insects.

Cultivation:

Sheltered, shady, moist position, in well drained soil.

Figure 2. Crownshaft detail.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5. New leaf, showing the deep colour.

Reference:

Palms & Cycads Around The World", Jack Krempin

Contributed by:

Andre de Does (Figure 1 from Palms of the South-West Pacific, by John L. Dowe)

External Links:

Kew, PalmWeb, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr, PalmTalk