Pritchardia maideniana Becc.

Trunk 5-10 m tall, 20 cm wide, broadening towards the base, grey. Leaves 2-3 m long, waxy blue to yellowish-green, stiffly spreading, wedge-shaped at the base, divided slightly more than half way into narrow leaflets which are divided again to have 2 sharp points. Leaf stalks short and thick, covered with brown wool. Flowers orange. Panicles short, rigid. Fruits 12-14 mm wide, brownish-black.

Origin unknown.

Described in 1913 from plants cultivated in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and of unknown origin but presumably collected in the Pacific. Seed and plants have been distributed from these original plants. Grows readily in subtropical and warm temperate regions.

 

P. martii H.Wendl., Loulu Hiwa Palm, from Oahu, Hawaii, has a stout trunk to 3 m tall. Leaves 2-3 m long, numerous in a heavy, rounded crown, dark green above, grey and felty beneath, distinctly pleated. Leaflets mostly joined, tips somewhat drooping. An attractive palm for the collector. Can be successfully grown in warm temperate regions. Slow growing and sun hardy.

Source: Jones, D; Spencer, R. (2005). Arecaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Lilianae
order      Arecales
family       Arecaceae
genus        Pritchardia Seem. & H. Wendl.