HEADER PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS A GROUP OF PALMS OUTSIDE BOTANICA IN FIRST AVENUE WHANGAREI
PALMS AND CYCADS.
PALMS - Arecaceae.
Whangarei is New Zealand's 'City Of Palms'. You will find a variety of palm trees planted all over the city in parks, businessess and private gardens. Palms do very well in Whangarei, however, the local bodies have made it rather confusing for residents choosing which palm species to plant, as the booklet that the combined local bodies has produced lists Archontophenix cunninghamiana as a 'Pest Species, yet this appears to be one of the palm species that councils and businesses have planted in large numbers throughout the city. Many palms look similar, so my suggestion is that when planting palms get hold of the booklet fron the Whangarei Regional Council and take it with you to your nurseryman ao that you can be sure you are not planting a 'Pest Species' in your garden.
PALMS: ARECACEAE: The Arecaceae are a botanical family of perennial trees ad shrubs commonly known as palms. This plant family is also known as Palmae or Palmaceae They are flowering plants, but are mostly grown for the foliage effect. There are roughly 200 genera, with around 2600 species currently known, most of them restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates., including New Zealand. Most palms are distinguished by their evergreen leaves or fronds, arranged at the top of an unbranched stem or trunk. Many are also the exception to this rule, and inhabit nearly every type of habitat within their range, from rainforests to deserts. Palms are extensively used in horticultural landscaping, being one of the most cultivated of the plant families; many common foods are also derived from palms, including oil and root. Their exotic apperance, makes a symbol for tropical vacations, as well as having been historically linked to victory, peace, and fertility. Whangarei in Northland New Zealand is sometimes called 'The City Of Palms', as councils have for many years used a number of Palm trees in the landscaping. around the city. All Photographs were taken around Whangarei.
ARCHONTOPHOENIX.
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana: Bungalow Palm - King Palm - Illawara Palm.
BOTANICAL NAME: Archontophoenix cunninghamian: Common name Bangalow palm, King palm, Illawara palm, piccabben, piccabeen. An Australian palm that can grow more than 20 metres tall. Its flower colour is violet and the red fruits are attractive to birds. It flowers in midsummer and has evergreen foliage.It has become a noxious weed in many areas where it has been used as an ornamental plant. In New Zealand, there is concern that A. cunninghamiana could invade native forests, since it has the same ecological requirements as the native nikau palm. The Auckland Regional Council has included A. cunninghamiana on a list of plants requiring further research on their potential to adversely affect the environment, however, it is classed as an invasive plant in Northland, NZ. It is commonly cultivated in California from San Luis Obispo south to the Mexican border and in coastal South Florida.
A. cunninghamiana is a tall palm with a distinct skirt of flowers or fruit beneath the crown. It was popular as a street tree in Wnangarei until being classified as an invasive species. It is recommended that the Queen Palm; Syagrus romanzoffiana, or the Jelly Palm; Butia capitata be planted as replacements..
A. cunninghamiana is a tall palm with a distinct skirt of flowers or fruit beneath the crown. It was popular as a street tree in Wnangarei until being classified as an invasive species. It is recommended that the Queen Palm; Syagrus romanzoffiana, or the Jelly Palm; Butia capitata be planted as replacements..
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BORASSUS.
Borassus species: Palmyra Palm.
BOTANICAL NAME: Borassus species: Common Name - Palmyra Palm is a genus of six species of fan palms, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and New Guinea. They are tall palms, capable of growing up to 30 m high (98 ft). The leaves are fan-shaped, 2 to 3 m in length. The flowers are small, in densely clustered spikes, followed by large, brown, roundish fruits. The six species are - B. aethiopum - African Palmyra Palm from tropical Africa, B. akeassii - Ake Assi's Palmyra Palm from West Africa, B. flabellifer - Asian Palmyra palm/Lontar palm, Doub palm, Sea Coconut, from Southern Asia and Southeast Asia, B. heineanus - New Guinea Palmyra Palm from New Guinea, B. madagascariensis - Madagascar Palmyra Palm and B. sambiranensis - Sambirano Palmyra Palm, both from Madagascar.
BRAHEA.
BOTANICAL NAME: Brahea species: Common Name - Hesper Palms. A genus of palms in the Arecaceae family. They are endemic to Mexico and Central America. All Hesper Palms have large, fan-shaped leaves.
PHOENIX.
Phoenix canariensis: Phoenix Palm - Canary Island Fate Palm.
BOTANICAL NAME : Phoenix canarienisiis. Phoenix is a genus of 14 species of palms, however, the one that is of concern is P. canariensis, common names Phoenix Palm or Canary Island Date Palm. It is native to the Canary Islands and east across northern and central Africa, Crete & Southern Asia. The subfamily is Coryphoideae.
Phoenix palms seed readily and can overun open areas. However, the concern for home gardeners is the spikes ar the base of the fronds. The shap needle points can penetrate deep into humans and farm or domestic animals, needing surgical removal. I have personally experienced this discomfort with a thorn in the side of the face between the eye & ear. It was removed after months of applying a drawing ointment like black tar. Seedlngs should be uprooted on sight. Photographs taken of a plant beside the pipe crossing of the Waiarohia Streem, behind Whangarei Boys High School, were dogens of school children cross each school day. BELOW: Large Phoenix Palm growing in Cafler Park, Whangarei, by the Rose Garden.
Phoenix palms seed readily and can overun open areas. However, the concern for home gardeners is the spikes ar the base of the fronds. The shap needle points can penetrate deep into humans and farm or domestic animals, needing surgical removal. I have personally experienced this discomfort with a thorn in the side of the face between the eye & ear. It was removed after months of applying a drawing ointment like black tar. Seedlngs should be uprooted on sight. Photographs taken of a plant beside the pipe crossing of the Waiarohia Streem, behind Whangarei Boys High School, were dogens of school children cross each school day. BELOW: Large Phoenix Palm growing in Cafler Park, Whangarei, by the Rose Garden.
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Rhopalostylis sapida: Nikau Palm - New Zealand.
BOTANICAL NAME: Rhopalostylis sapida. Common name Nikau Palm, the Maori name for the tree. A palm tree endemic to New Zealand, and the only palm native New Zealand palm tree. The Nikau palm's natural range is coastal and lowland forest on the North Island, and on the South Island as far south as Okarito in the west and Banks Peninsula in the east. It also occurs on Chatham Island and Pitt Island/Rangiauria to the south-east of New Zealand, where it is the world's southernmost palm. A very tidy palm in form, the Nikau grows up to 15 m tall, with a stout green trunk which bears grey-green leaf scars. The trunk is topped by a smooth compact frond formation. The fronds are up to 3m.
The inflorescence (see picture) is a multi-branched spike from 200 to 400 mm long. The tightly
packed flowers are unisexual and coloured lilac to pink. The Nikau produces flowers between November and April, and fruits ripen from February to November, taking almost a year to fully ripen. These are a preferred food of the Kererū, the native wood pigeon. Nowadays the Nikau is widely used in landscaping, particularly in Northland, and youn Nikau palms can be seen planted around buildings in Whangarei. BELOW: Nikau palms growing naturally in the Coronation Reserve, Whangarei.
The inflorescence (see picture) is a multi-branched spike from 200 to 400 mm long. The tightly
packed flowers are unisexual and coloured lilac to pink. The Nikau produces flowers between November and April, and fruits ripen from February to November, taking almost a year to fully ripen. These are a preferred food of the Kererū, the native wood pigeon. Nowadays the Nikau is widely used in landscaping, particularly in Northland, and youn Nikau palms can be seen planted around buildings in Whangarei. BELOW: Nikau palms growing naturally in the Coronation Reserve, Whangarei.
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SYAGRUS.
Syagrus romanzoffiana: Queen Palm or Cocos Palm.
BOTANICAL NAME: Syagrus romanzoffiana: Common Name - Queen Palm or Cocos Palm. Native to South America, from northern Argentina north to eastern Brazil and west to eastern Bolivia. It is a medium-sized palm, quickly reaching maturity at a height of up to 15 m (49 ft) tall, with pinnate leaves. The palm has a wide introduced range due to its popularity as an ornamental garden tree, and is recommended as a substitute planting for the Bangalow Palm, which is now considered an invasive species in Northland, NZ. The Queen Palm is now found in most tropical and subtropical areas, however, it's fronds die off constantly, so it needs trimming to be kept tidy. Photographs taken at the New World Supermarket in Whangarei, NZ.
TRACHYCARPUS.
Trachycarpus fortunei: Fan Palm -Chusan Palm - Windmill Palm.
BOTANICAL NAME: Trachycarpus fortunii. Common name - Fan Palm, Chusan Palm or Windmill
Palm (Chinese Windmill Palm) is a native to central China and northern India & Mianma. It grows at altitudes of 100–2400 meters. A member of the family Arecaceae subfamily Coryphoideae. T. fortunii grows to 12 metres tall and is easily distingushed by its large fan-like leaves and trunk covered in course fibre. Flowers emerge from a sheath, and the small round or oblong fruit is spread by birds during the summer months. Picture (above) taken in Cafler Park behind Forum North, Whangarei. Left is a younger palm growing outside the fire station in Bank Street, Whangarei.
Palm (Chinese Windmill Palm) is a native to central China and northern India & Mianma. It grows at altitudes of 100–2400 meters. A member of the family Arecaceae subfamily Coryphoideae. T. fortunii grows to 12 metres tall and is easily distingushed by its large fan-like leaves and trunk covered in course fibre. Flowers emerge from a sheath, and the small round or oblong fruit is spread by birds during the summer months. Picture (above) taken in Cafler Park behind Forum North, Whangarei. Left is a younger palm growing outside the fire station in Bank Street, Whangarei.
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IMAGES OF PALMS.
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CYCADS.
CYCADS: CYCADOPHYTA - There three families of cycads in this division of the plant kingdom - Cycadaceae, Stangeriaceae, and Zamiaceae. During the Jurassic period, they were extremely common. They have changed little since the Jurassic period, compared to some other plant divisions. Cycads are seed plants, characterized by a stout and woody trunk with a crown of large, hard and stiff, evergreen leaves. They are palm-like in appearance, but flower from the centre of the crown. The individual plants are either all male or all female (dioecious). Cycads vary in size from having trunks from only a few centimeters to several meters tall. They are slow growing, but have a long life span, with some specimens known to be as much as 1,000 years old. Cycads are found across much of the subtropical and tropical parts of the world, but the greatest diversity occurs in South and Central America and species are found in desert to bog-like conditions, sand or rocks, sun or shade, and some species are salt tolerant. Cycads are gymnosperms, bearing naked seeds, as opposed to palms which are angiosperms, which have enclosed. Cycads have very specialized pollinators, usually a specific species of beetle, which means they do not seed in New Zealand conditions, unless that particular insect exists there, as there are no naturally existing Cycads in NZ.
BOTANICAL NAME: Cycads species are seed plants typically characterized by a stout and woody trunk with a crown of large, hard and stiff, evergreen leaves. The individual plants are either all male or all female (dioecious). Cycads vary in size from having trunks from only a few centimeters to several meters tall. They typically grow very slowly and live very long, with some specimens known to be as much as 1,000 years old. Because of their superficial resemblance, they are sometimes confused with and mistaken for palms. Cycads are found across much of the subtropical and tropical parts of the world. The greatest diversity of species occur in South and Central America, and Asia. Species of Cycads can be found in most climates and conditions, from deserts to bog areas, full sun or full shade, even salt. Cycads belong to three extant families of cycads are Cycadaceae, Stangeriaceae, and Zamiaceae. Though they are a minor component of the plant kingdom today, during the Jurassic period, they were extremely common. They have changed little since the Jurassic, compared to some major evolutionary changes in other plant divisions. They are gymnosperms which have naked seeded directly fertilized by pollination, as opposed to angiosperms, which have enclosed seeds.Photograph taken at Botanica, First Avenue, and other parts of Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand.
Cycas revoluta, native to southern Japan, is one of several species used for the production of sago, as well as an ornamental plant.
Cycas revoluta, native to southern Japan, is one of several species used for the production of sago, as well as an ornamental plant.