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Plants › Palms & cycads

Palmiste marron (Hyophorbe verschaffeltii)

Hyophorbe verschaffeltii is reported to be an evergreen palm with pinnate leaves, a single ringed trunk, and a crownshaft.

LightIn tropical regions, a partly shaded position is reported to be preferable.
WaterThe growing site is reported to be best kept moist with good drainage.
TemperatureSources differ on the minimum temperature, with a reported value of about 0 °C.
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Overview

Hyophorbe verschaffeltii is reported to be an evergreen palm with pinnate leaves, a single ringed trunk, and a crownshaft.

Origin and habitat

Hyophorbe verschaffeltii is endemic to Rodrigues in the Republic of Mauritius and is also widely cultivated in tropical regions. It is reported to be native to Rodrigues, where the soil is described as rich in calcareous material; its wild habitat has been damaged, and only a small wild population is reported to remain. It is reported to occur in tropical to subtropical conditions, to be sensitive to low temperatures, and to be widely cultivated as an ornamental in tropical and semitropical regions.

Characteristics

Sources are few, but mature height is reported to be about 600–650 cm, and growth is reported to be relatively slow. The pinnate leaves are reported to form a crown with several recurved, sometimes slightly twisted leaves; they are green above and gray beneath, with numerous regularly arranged V-shaped leaflets, while young plants may have yellow to purple leaf midribs. On mature plants, the inflorescences are reported to emerge below the crownshaft and curve upward; the fragrant flowers range from cream to orange, with male and female flowers on the same inflorescence, making the plant monoecious. The fruit is described as oval and initially green; sources differ on the mature color, describing it as either orange to red or black.

Light

In tropical regions, a partly shaded position is reported to be preferable.

Watering

The growing site is reported to be best kept moist with good drainage.

Temperature and dormancy

Sources differ on the minimum temperature, with a reported value of about 0 °C.

Growing medium and mounting

A moist, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil is reported to be preferred, with the source linking this preference to the calcareous soils of its native habitat.

Propagation

It is reported to be propagated from fresh, elongated seeds, with germination taking an extended period.

Common problems

Low temperatures are reported to cause leaf drop, and plants that survive frost damage may subsequently produce several poorly developed new leaves. The plant is reported to be cold-sensitive, with sufficiently low temperatures causing leaf drop or possibly death, although brief exposure to somewhat lower temperatures is also reported without major damage; salt tolerance is described as high.

Identification

The trunk is reported to swell around the middle as it ages, producing a characteristic spindle-shaped outline that distinguishes it from the basally swollen trunk of the related Hyophorbe lagenicaulis. The crownshaft is reported to be smooth and green to gray-green.

Photos

Hyophorbe verschaffeltii
📷 Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Sources