Download macarthur palm - Trees from Seeds

MACARTHUR PALM
PTYCHOSPERMA MACARTHURII
Seletar C Club Hole 16
Metta IDAC
Seletar C Club Hole 10
Nouvelle Park
Ptychosperma macarthurii is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family. It is
found only in the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia. It is named after Sir
William Macarthur of New South Wales, son of the Australian botanist Captain John
Macarthur.
A population of this species near Darwin was previously named Ptychosperma bleeseri
and thought to be due to habitat loss.
P. macarthurii is a small palm of moist rainforests and broad-leaved riverain gallery
forests and favours light to moderate shade, a rich, moist loamy or sandy soil and a high
humidity. In places where a large tree has fallen, letting in more light than is usual, this
plant responds with great vigor. The leaf crowns become larger and the stems attain
greater diameters.
Ptychosperma macarthurii, a species of the genus Ptychosperma, is an evergreen
clustering palm of variable height with a slow to moderate growth rate, depending on the
growing conditions and environment. It can reach up to 9.1 m (30 ft) tall, but generally
grows between 3-6 m in height, with a frond spread between 1.8-3 m. It can be planted
singly
or
in
groups.
Singapore Locations:
NParks FloraWeb:
Family: Arecaceae (Palmae)
Common Name: MacArthur Palm, Hurricane Palm
Synonym: Actinophloeus macarthurii, Kentia macarthurii
Origin: Australia, New Guinea
Leaf Colour: Green
Fruit Colour: Red
Description
Form
It is often growing in clumps as new plants arise from the base of the parent tree. The
commonly cultivated P. macarthurii is considerably more vigorous than the Australian
plants growing in the wild; it has numerous stems which attain greater diameters and
broader pinnae. Stems can attain heights of up to 15m. but are commonly 5-8m.
Leaves
Extended above is a short light green crown shaft that supports a dense head of pinnate or
feather-shaped fronds that are about 1-1.5 m long. Coloured medium to dark green, the
pinnae or leaflets are linear-shaped and up to 30 cm long, with jagged tips or seemingly
torn
ends.
Flowers
Flowering is seasonal and begins in October or November but can be earlier and later
depending on conditions and plant health. Emerging year round at the base of the crown
shaft are clusters of branched flowering stalks, 0.6 m long, bearing inconspicuous offwhite or whitish-green flowers that eventually develop into green fruits.
Fruits
The brilliant red fruit begin to ripen in January mostly, appearing until at least the present
month, April. These fruits will ripen to a brilliant red tone, almost roundish-shaped and
about 1.3 cm long. Truly attractive and showy in fabulous contrast with the cool and
refreshing-looking green foliage.
Trunk
Popularly grown for its ornamental beauty, it is typically multi-trunked, with impressive
clumps of upright and slender stems that are grey-coloured and ringed by leaf scars.
FLOWERING TIMINGS
Leaves
Flowers
Fruits
J
F
M
A
X
X
X
X
X
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
X
Growing from Seeds
1.
Collect seeds from below palm tree
2.
Soak in water for 2 – 3 days, change water daily, remove the outer pulp and
discard
3.
Soak in water for 1 – 2 weeks. Change water daily.
4.
Fill bottom of pot with LECA
5.
Fill with potting mix
6.
Arrange seeds on the top. Can also plant with skin on, but results not so good.
7.
Cover with thin layer of potting mix
8.
Water daily with sprayer. Seeds will germinate in 4 – 6 weeks
9.
Add diluted liquid fertilizer once a month
10.
Can last for 2 to 3 years