Pritchardia pacifica
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Pritchardia pacifica habit. Photograph courtesy of Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Guide to Palms http://palmguide.org/index.php |
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Pritchardia pacifica petioles and inflorescences |
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Pritchardia pacifica stem |
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Pritchardia pacifica base of stem |
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Pritchardia pacifica leaf blade |
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Pritchardia pacifica hastula (upper surface) |
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Pritchardia pacifica costa and midribs (undersurface) with white tomentum |
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Pritchardia pacifica petiole with dense white tomentum |
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Pritchardia pacifica closer view of petiole with dense white tomentum |
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Pritchardia pacifica fruit (Starr Image 041120-1034). Photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr, starrimages@hear.org |
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Pritchardia pacifica seeds. Photograph courtesy of Montgomery Botanical Center http://www.montgomerybotanical.org/ |
Common name
Fiji fan palm
Description
Stem: Solitary, upright stems to 15 m tall and up to 30 cm in diameter, sometimes spreading slightly at the base, pale gray to tan in color, with faint leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
scars. Leaves: Costapalmatecostapalmate:
a fan-shaped leaf with a midrib (costa) extending into the blade, sometimes extending far enough into the blade to cause it to curve (e.g., <em>Sabal palmetto</em>)
, induplicateinduplicate:
Most palm leaflets or leaf segments are obviously folded. If the folds create a V-shape, with the midrib lower than the margins (so that rain might fall "into a valley"), the folding is induplicate.
, 2-3 m across, undulate, forming a semi-circle, divided into stiff, single-fold segments usually no more than one-third the length of the leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
blade, with erect, bifidbifid:
deeply cleft into two usually equal parts or two-lobed from the apex; for example, palms with bifid leaves or leaflet tips (e.g., <em>Chamaedorea metallica</em> has bifid leaves)
leaf segment tips. The leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
color is bright green with a thin waxy coating. The petiole and abaxialabaxial:
away from or the side of an organ facing away from the axis (<strong>ab </strong>as in <strong>ab</strong>andon); for example, the lower surface of a leaf blade or petiole
midribs are covered with whitish wooly tomentumtomentum:
a covering of closely matted or fine hairs on plant leaves
. The leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
sheath breaks down into a mass of tawny fibers. The petiole is smooth and unarmed. Flowers and fruit: Inflorescences to 1 m long (usually shorter than or equal to the leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
petiole in length) with panicles branched to two orders and yellow flowers. Fruits spherical, reddish-black, about 12 mm in diameter.
Diagnostic features
Field: Solitary, upright stems sometimes spreading slightly at the base, pale gray to tan in color, with faint leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
scars; costapalmatecostapalmate:
a fan-shaped leaf with a midrib (costa) extending into the blade, sometimes extending far enough into the blade to cause it to curve (e.g., <em>Sabal palmetto</em>)
, undulating leaves, 2-3 m across, divided into stiff, segments usually no more than one-third the length of the leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
blade, with erect, bifidbifid:
deeply cleft into two usually equal parts or two-lobed from the apex; for example, palms with bifid leaves or leaflet tips (e.g., <em>Chamaedorea metallica</em> has bifid leaves)
leaf segment tips; shiny black fruits to 12 mm in diameter.
May be confused with
Other Pritchardia species, but the stiff, undulating leaves and small, spherical black fruit are distinctive.
Distribution
Native to Fiji, Tonga and perhaps other areas of the South Pacific
Additional comments
Pritchardia pacifica is one of the more commonly cultivated Pritchardia species.
Scientific name
Pritchardia pacifica Seem. & Wendl. ex Wendl.
Family
Arecaceae/Palmae
Synonyms
Eupritchardia pacifica Kuntze
Styloma pacifica O.F.Cook
Washingtonia pacifica Kuntze
