Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (L.H.Bailey) H.E.Moore

ബോട്ടില്‍ പാം

Family : Arecaceae

Synonym : Mascarena lagenicaulis L.H.Bailey

Common Names : Bottle palm

Flowering Period : Throughout the year

Distribution : Mauritius Islands. Endemic to Round Island.

Habitat : Grown as ornamental plant

Uses : Ornamental garden plant

Key Characters :

This little dwarf of a palm will grow slowly to a height of 10-12 ft (3.1-3.7 m). The solitary trunk is grotesquely swollen. The trunk is a rounded bulge in young specimens and gradually elongates and flattens somewhat as the palm matures. A small crown consisting of 4 to 8 pinnate (feather-like) leaves sits atop a smooth green crownshaft that connects the leaves to the trunk. The upwardly arching leaves grow to about 10 ft (3.1 m) in length in mature specimens. Leaflets are about 2 ft (0.6 m) long and arranged in two upward pointing rows. The inflorescences emerge at the point where the crownshaft meets the trunk. They grow upward as they mature supporting numerous male and female small white flowers on the same stalk. The female flowers are followed by 1 in (2.5 cm) round fruits which change from green to black as they mature. The Bottle Palm produces beautiful white flowers that are held by 30 in. stalks coming from below the crownshaft. Flowers are monoecious, male and female flowers on the same inflorescence. Flowers are followed by green black berry like fruits that turn black when ripe. Oval shaped fruit is around 1.5 inches long and contains a single seed inside.