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Drymophloeus oliviformis (Giseke) Mart.
| Family Name: | Arecaceae (Palmae) |
| Synonyms: | Areca oliviformis Giseke, Drymophloeus ceramensis Miq., Drymophloeus bifidus Becc., Drymophloeus leprosus Becc., Drymophloeus appendiculatus (Blume) Miq. |
Drymophloeus oliviformis is an understorey palm with a solitary, sometimes multi-stemmed habit. Reaching up to 7 meters in height, it is native to the Moluccas Islands and northwestern New Guinea. This species is easily recognised by the almost rubbery texture of the leaflets and the fan-like fused terminal leaflets.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Palm (Solitary Habit, Clustered Habit) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Fountain (Palm-like) |
| Maximum Height | 1 m to 7 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Moluccas Islands (Ambon, Buru, Seram, Sula Islands), Northwestern New Guinea |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a solitary-growing palm, sometimes clustering, up to 7 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | The trunk is slim, about 2 - 7 cm in diameter, and ringed with evenly spaced leaf scars. |
| Roots | The stilt roots are present in this species, growing up to 30 cm from the ground. |
| Foliage | The fronds are large (about 1 - 2.5 m long), even-pinnately compound, and droopy. There are about 8 - 19 pairs of leaflets, each about 18 - 71 cm long x 3 - 24 cm wide, and they are firm and rubbery to the touch. The terminal leaflets are usually united to form a single fan-like leaflet. The rachis is 0.6 - 1.5 m long, and the petiole is 21 - 61 cm long. The leaves in young plants are usually undivided. |
| Crown Shaft | The crown shaft is green to brown and slightly inflated. |
| Flowers | The inflorescence is infrafoliar, emerging below the fronds and crown shaft, and subtended by a persistent spathe or peduncular bract. It branches up to 2 orders between 3 - 17 rachillae; each rachilla (small, secondary axes on inflorescences) is 7.5 - 40.5 cm long and green. Triads of one female flower flanked by two male flowers occur throughout the length of the rachillae. Male flowers have 30 - 66 stamens. Female flowers have a three-lobed stigma and three fused carpels. |
| Fruit | The fruits are ovoid, fibrous drupes, up to 11 - 24 mm long x 6 - 12 mm wide. They ripen to orange-red or red and contain abundant raphides. The single seed is globose to ovoid, sometimes flattened at the base, and brown. |
| Habitat | It can be found in lowland or hillside rainforest, or alluvial forest, often over limestone, at 10 - 600 m above sea level. |
| Cultivation | It does well in well-drained loamy soil and partially shaded. It can be propagated by seeds. |
| Etymology | The genus Drymophloeus is derived from Ancient Greek drymos, "wood/forest" and possibly phloios, "bark" although the reference is unclear. The specific epithet oliviformis means "olive-shaped", referring to the shape of the fruits. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens |
| Thematic Landscaping | Naturalistic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Irritant - Contact Allergy |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Irritant Contact Allergy: The fruit may contain abundant raphides, possibly causing itching upon skin contact. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bee-Attracting Plant |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) (Birds ) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Low |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery, Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Odd-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Palm Fronds (Pinnate / Feather) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Palm - Solitary) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Palm) | Solitary Habit, Aboveground |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Aboveground (Prop / Stilt Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Cream / Off-White |
|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Inflorescence Type | Spikelet / Pseudospikelet / Compound Spike |
| Ovary Position | Superior / Hypogynous |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
| Mature Seed Texture(s) | Fibrous |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
| References | Baker, W.J., Barfod, A.S., Cámara-Leret, R., Dowe, J.L., Heatubun, C.D., Petoe, P., Turner, J.H., Zona, S. & Dransfield, J. (2024) Palms of New Guinea. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond. 529-535. Zona, S. (1999). Revision of Drymophloeus (Arecaceae: Arecoideae). Blumea journal of plant taxonomy and plant geography. 44. 1-24. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29668 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3977 |
| 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. |