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Johannesteijsmannia magnifica J.Dransf.
| Family Name: | Arecaceae (Palmae) |
| Common Name: | Silver Joey |
Johannesteijsmannia magnifica, or known as Silver Joey, is a slow-growing, solitary, 'stemless' understorey palm found in Peninsular Malaysia. It produces large, pleated, diamond-shaped, undivided fronds with a silver undersides, and a dense cluster of minute, white odorous flowers. The palm prefers well-drained soils and a humid, shaded environment.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Palm (Solitary Habit) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Fountain (Palm-like) |
| Maximum Height | 3 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Peninsular Malaysia |
|---|---|
| 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 small to medium-sized solitary palm, with fronds reaching up to 3.5 m in height. The large surface area and the rosette arrangement of the fronds might suggest a litter-trapping habit, funnelling leaf litter and debris to the base of the stem. <3> |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The undivided fronds are large (up to 3 m long × 2 m wide), pleated, erect, and diamond-shaped. The upper surface is green and smooth while the undersides are covered in a white hair, which give them a silvery or grey colour. The lower frond margin is armed with small, sharp prickles (up to 1.5 mm). The petiole (leaf stalk) has two lateral yellow stripes and armed with small, sharp thorns. |
| Stems | It is acaulescent (seemingly stemless, with non-visible stems in palms), with a subterranean stem up to 15 cm in diameter. |
| Flowers | The inflorescence is an interfoliar (borne between the leaves/fronds) arching panicle, and subtended by 5 - 6 spathes or peduncular bracts. The spathes are covered in scruffy fuzz that starts cream-coloured before turning brown. The peduncle (central stalk on inflorescence) can be up to 80 cm long × 2 cm in diameter, and branches up to 5 - 6 orders with 500 - 1000 floriferous, greenish, smooth branches up to 7 cm long × 1.5 cm in diameter. The bisexual flowers occur singly or in groups of twos or threes, and are arranged spirally throughout each rachillae (minor, secondary axes on inflorescences). The flowers are white, fleshy, smooth, and odorous, emitting a strong, fermented sweet or sour scent. <1> The petals are narrowly triangular and reflexed. |
| Fruit | The fruit is a globose, reddish-brown, knobbly drupe (a fleshy fruit with thin skin and a single central seed), up to 4 cm in diameter, with numerous corky protuberances that are 2.5 mm in height. |
| Habitat | It can be found on steep slopes and ridge-tops of lowland rainforests, randing from 150 - 500 m above sea levels. It also can be found at the side of forest river in a deep, humid valley, growing alongside Johannesteijsmannia lanceolata. |
| Similar | It can be distinguished from other Johannesteijamannia species by its silver undersides of the fronds, 5 - 6 order of branching on its inflorescences, and the narrow and reflexed petals. <2> |
| Associated Fauna | The flowers are likely pollinated by stingless bees (genus Trigona). <1> |
| Cultivation | It requires bright, filtered light or dappled shade and a warm, humid environment. It prefers moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter and is sensitive to overwatering. Avoid strong winds and root disturbance, as it will stress the palm. It can be grown indoors but requires high humidity. It can be propagated by seeds. |
| Etymology | The genus Johannesteijsmannia is named in honour of Johannes Elias Teijsmann, a 19th Century Dutch gardener and botanist at the former Buitenzorg Botanical Garden, Java (now Kebun Raya Indonesia, Bogor). The specific epithet magnifica is Latin for 'magnificent' or 'splendid', referring to the attractive fronds. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for growing in parks under shady, humid conditions. It can be grown as a focal plant for its handsome form and attractive, diamond-shaped fronds with the silvery undersides. Avoid areas with strong winds, such as exposed areas and high-traffic roadsides. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Focal Plant, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Naturalistic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Spines/Thorns - Leaf, Pungent Scent - Flowers |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Spines/Thorns (Leaf): The lower leaf margin and petiole are lined with short spines.
Pungent Scent (Flowers): The flowers are odorous, having a strong, fermented sweet-and-sour scent. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)), Abiotic (Self-Pollinated) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Transplanting Tolerance | Poor / Sensitive |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Silver / Grey |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny, Leathery |
| Foliar Modification | Flower/Fruit Bract, Spine (marginal) |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Palm Fronds (Simple) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Palm - Solitary) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Palm) | Aboveground, Solitary Habit |
|---|---|
| Stem Type & Modification | Acaulescent |
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Thick / Fleshy, Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
| Ovary Position | Superior / Hypogynous |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red, Brown |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Bumpy / Tuberculate |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
| References | <1> Chan, Y.M., & Saw, L.G. (2011). Notes on the Pollination Ecology of the Palm Genus Johannesteijsmannia (Arecaceae). Journal of Pollination Ecology, 6(15). pp 108–117
<2> Dransfield, J. (1972). The Genus Johannesteijsmannia H. E. Moore Jr. Gardens' Bulletin, Singapore Vol. 26. pp 63–83. <3> Zona, S., & Christenhusz, M. J. M. (2015). Litter-trapping plants: Filter feeders of the plant kingdom. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 179, pp 554–586. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30036 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4345 |
| 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. |
