Hyophorbe_amaricaulis

<i>Hyophorbe amaricaulis</i>

Hyophorbe amaricaulis

Species of palm

Hyophorbe amaricaulis (also known as the "loneliest palm")[2] is a species of palm tree of the order Arecales, family Arecaceae, subfamily Arecoideae, tribe Chamaedoreeae. It is found exclusively on the island of Mauritius, and only a single surviving specimen[3] has been documented in the Curepipe Botanic Gardens in Curepipe. Thus, it is classified as an endling.

Quick Facts Hyophorbe amaricaulis, Conservation status ...

Distribution

This species is one of nine species of palm which are indigenous to Mauritius, and one of the seven palms which are also endemic.

In the 1700s, this palm species was described from specimens taken from the mountain Pieter Both, where it seems to have been widespread at the time.[4]

Currently, only the single specimen exists in Curepipe Botanic Gardens,[5] and it is not known if this specimen was planted here, or was a survivor from the area's wild population that became included when the gardens were established.

Description

A close-up view of Hyophorbe amaricaulis leaves

The palm is about 12 metres (39 ft) high with a relatively thin gray trunk with a waxy crown shank.

It is related to the bottle palm and spindle palm. It is said to resemble the green variety of H. indica – another Hyophorbe palm species which also does not develop a swollen trunk.

It is reported to have white to cream-colored flowers on an inflorescence with three-ordered branching. Its fruits are 3.8 cm (1.5 in) long and a dull red colour, but years and years of efforts have not resulted in fertile offspring.

A study in 2010 reported successful germination in vitro (by isolating and growing embryos extracted from seeds in tissue culture). The young green seedlings grew for about three months but later died.[6]

References

  1. [1]
    Bachraz, V.; Strahm, W.; et al. (TPTNC) (2000). "Hyophorbe amaricaulis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2000: e.T38578A10125958. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2000.RLTS.T38578A10125958.en. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Loneliest palm (Hyophorbe amaricaulis)". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  3. [3]
    Mabberley, D.J. (1997). The Plant-Book, 2nd Ed. Cambridge University Press, UK. ISBN 0-521-41421-0.
  4. [4]
    Maunder, Mike; Page, Wayne; Mauremootoo, John; Payendee, Richard; Mungroo, Yousoof; Maljkovic, Aleks; Vericel, Christian; Lyte, Ben (January 2002). "The decline and conservation management of the threatened endemic palms of the Mascarene Islands". Oryx. 36 (1): 56–65. doi:10.1017/S0030605302000091. ISSN 1365-3008.
  5. [5]
    Ian Parker (January 22, 2007). "Digging for Dodos". The New Yorker. pp. 64–73.
  6. [6]
    Sarasan, Viswambharan (2010-12-01). "Importance of in vitro technology to future conservation programmes worldwide". Kew Bulletin. 65 (4): 549–554. Bibcode:2010KewBu..65..549S. doi:10.1007/s12225-011-9250-7. ISSN 1874-933X.

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