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Johannesteijsmannia altifrons (Rchb.f. & Zoll.) H.E.Moore
| Family Name: | Arecaceae (Palmae) |
| Synonyms: | Teysmannia altifrons Rchb.f. & Zoll. |
| Common Name: | Daun Payung, Diamond Joey, Joey Palm, Umbrella-leaved Palm |
Johannesteijsmannia altifrons, or known as Daun Payung, is a slow-growing, solitary, 'stemless' understorey palm found in Southeast Asia. It produces large, pleated, diamond-shaped, undivided fronds that can reach up to 6 m in length, and a 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 |
| Maximum Height | 6 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Thailand, Penisular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra |
|---|---|
| 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 6 m in height. The palm is observed to have a litter-trapping habit, funnelling leaf litter and debris to the base of the stem. <3> |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The undivided fronds are large (up to 6 m long × 1.8 m wide), pleated, diamond-shaped, and erect to spreading. The undersides are smooth with soft, brown scales along the midrib, and the lower frond margin is armed with small, sharp thorns. The petiole (leaf stalk) is long (up to 2.5 m long × 2 cm wide), patterned with 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) panicle, first erect before becoming pendulous, 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 30 - 50 cm long, and branches up to 3 orders with 2 - 100 floriferous greenish, tomentose branches up to 100 cm long × 1.5 - 2.5 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, sweet-and-sour scent. |
| Fruit | The fruit is a globose, dull brown, knobbly drupe (a fleshy fruit with thin skin and a single central seed), up to 3.9 - 4.6 cm in diameter, with numerous corky protuberances that are 7 - 8 mm in height. |
| Habitat | It can be found on hill slopes and ridge tops in hill dipterocarp forests, ranging from 0 - 1000 m above sea level. It is found predominantly in primary forest and is never seen in belukar (secondary regrowth). |
| Similar | It can be distinguished from other Johannesteijamannia species by its smooth undersides of the fronds, 20 - 100 branches on its inflorescences and dull brown fruits, covered with 7 - 9 mm corky warts. <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 Johannesteijamannia is named in honour of Johannes Elias Teijsmann (1808 to 1882), a Dutch gardener and botanist at the former Buitenzorg Botanical Garden, Java (now Kebun Raya Indonesia, Bogor). The specific epithet altifrons is Latin for 'high-fronds", referring to the tall stature of the fronds. The common name 'Daun Payung' is Malay for 'Umbrella leaf' in reference to the wide leaves that can double as a temporary umbrella. |
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. Avoid areas with strong winds, such as exposed areas and high-traffic roadsides. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
| Landscape Uses | Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Parks & Gardens, 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, sweet-and-sour scent. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)) |
|---|
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 |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny, Leathery |
| Foliar Modification | Spine (marginal) |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Basal, Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Palm Fronds (Simple) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Palm - Solitary) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Palm) | Solitary Habit, Aboveground |
|---|---|
| Stem Type & Modification | Acaulescent |
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth, Thick / Fleshy |
| 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) | 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 | 1340 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5084 |
| 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. |
