Rhapis excelsa: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:40, 7 November 2007

Revision as of 11:23, 9 November 2007

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{{Taxobox

| color = lightgreen

| name = Broadleaf''Rhapis Ladyexcelsa'' Palm

| status = secure

secure

| image = Rhapisexcelsa.JPG

| image_caption = Rhapis excelsa

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| species = '''''R. excelsa'''''

| binomial = ''Rhapis excelsa''

| binomial_authority = ([[ACarl Peter Thunberg|Thunb.Henry]] ex) [[RehderAugustine Henry|A.Henry]]

}}

'''''Rhapis excelsa''''' also known as '''Broadleaf Lady Palm''' or '''Bamboo Palm''' is a [[species]] of [[List of Arecaceae genera#Tribe Corypheae|fan palm]] (Arecaceae subfamily Coryphoideae, tribe Corypheae) in the genus ''[[Rhapis]]'', probably native to southern [[China]] and [[Taiwan]]. It These plants areis not foundknown in the wild; all known plants come from cultivated groups in China. They were first collected by the [[Japan|Japanese]] for [[Tokugawa shogunate]] [[palacespalace]]s, then [[Rhapis]] popularity spread to [[Europe]], and later to [[Americas|America]] where its low [[light]] and humidity requirements make it a common feature in malls and offices. The genus name is [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] - ''rhapis'', meaning "needle"; and the species name is [[Latin]] for "tall", an ironic name choice as ''R. excelsa'' is not the tallest in the genus.

==Description==

''R. excelsa'' grows up to 4 m in height and 30 mm in diameter in multi-stemmed clumps with glossy, palmate [[leaves]] divided into broad, ribbed segments. Leaf segments are single or few in young plants and increase to a dozen or more in mature plants; segments are divided to the petiole. Leaf-ends are saw-toothed unlike most other palms, occurring on slender [[petioles]] ranging from 20 to 60 cm in length. New foliage emerges from a fibrous sheath which remains attached to the base. As the plants age, the sheaths fall, revealing the [[bamboo]]-like trunks. This usually [[dioecious]] palm species produces a small [[inflorescence]] at the top of the plant with spirally-arranged, fleshy flowers containing three petals fused at the base. Ripe fruit are fleshy and white, though ''R. excelsa'' more readily propagates via underground [[rhizome]] offshoots.

==References==

* Moore, H. E., Jr. (1963). An annotated checklist of cultivated palms. ''Principes'' 7: 162, 180.S

* Zhong Guo & Hua Jing. (1993). China Floral Encyclopaedia

*[http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/rhap_exc.cfm FLORIDATA Link]

*[http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Rhapis/excelsa.html PACSAO.org]

<center><gallery>

Image:Rhapisexcelsainflorescence.JPG|Immature inflorescence

Image:Rhapisexcelsafoliage.JPG|''R. excelsa'' foliage

Image:Rhapisexcelsatrunks.JPG|Sheathed and exposed stems

</gallery></center>

<br clear="all">

==External Links==

[http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/rhap_exc.cfm FLORIDATA Link]

[http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Rhapis/excelsa.html PACSAO.org]

==Other Material==

* Moore, H. E., Jr. 1963. An annotated checklist of cultivated palms. Principes 7:162,180.S

* Zhong Guo & Hua Jing. 1993. China Floral Encyclopaedia

[[Category:Palms]]

[[Category:Flora of China]]

{{palm-stub}}

[[de:Rhapis excelsa]]