'''''Rhapis excelsa''''' also known as '''Broadleafbroadleaf Ladylady Palmpalm''' or "Thethe Ladylady Palmpalm" 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 is not known in the wild; all known plants come from cultivated groups in China. They were first collected by the [[Japan]]ese for [[Tokugawa shogunate]] [[palace]]s, then 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.Rhapis 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 [[petiole (botany)|petiole]]s 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.
