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Sommieria leucophylla Becc.
| Family Name: | Arecaceae (Palmae) |
| Synonyms: | Linospadix micholitzii |
| Common Name: | Micholitz's Plant, 盖萼棕 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Palm (Solitary Habit) |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 1.2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | New Guinea |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A solitary, very small yet highly ornamental, understorey palm with a cane-like stem that bears a few small, arching, broad simple leaves that are maroon when young and are often attractively mottled. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Stem solitary, brown, cane-like, 15 cm in diameter when matured. |
| Foliage | Fronds simple, undivided with bifid (cleft into two parts) apices, splitting like fishtail at the tips, arching, broad, deep purplish when young, mottled green with age; petioles absent. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Flower: Inflorescences unbranched, long, wire-like, interfoliar (arising from among the fronds), spicate (arranged in or resembling a spike); flowers cream; sepals 3; petals 3. Fruit: Fruits globose, red when ripened, about 1 cm long, seeds brown, about 0.8 cm in long. |
| Cultivation | Prefers partial-shade to full shade and regular watering with high humidity. Being a shade-loving palm it has to be protected from direct sunlight. It thrives in rich, moist soil with good drainage. Propagate by seeds, which germinate within 2 to 4 months with bottom heat. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Foliar Shape(s) | Palm Fronds (Simple) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Palm - Solitary) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Palm) | Solitary Habit, Aboveground |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1311 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2604 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |