Difference between revisions of "Reinhardtia latisecta"

Revision as of 06:29, 18 January 2013

<google>CH02</google> [[Image:526319_485074728183518_1711964856_n.jpg|thumb|left|580px|Photo by Paul Craft, edric.

Reinhardtia (rine-HARD-tee-ah) latisecta (laht-ee-SEHK-tuh)
Photo by Paul Craft, edric.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Reinhardtia (rine-HARD-tee-ah) Species: latisecta (laht-ee-SEHK-tuh)
Synonyms
Malortiea latisecta
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Clustering Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Giant Windowpane Palm.

Habitat and Distribution

Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Is an understory palm of the humid lowland rainforests, up to 1000 m. elevation.

Description

A medium sized clustering palm 8-9 stems, between 3-8 metres high. The bright green, irregularly divided leaves, that sometimes have small "windows" (occasional Fenestrations) between the ribs on each side of the rachis. One of the larger Reinhardtia.

Clustering palm (to: 8 m), slender ringed trunk (diameter: 6.5 cm). Leaves irregularly paripinnate (length: 12-30 cm), consisting of 2-3 cuneiform pinnae (long: 60 cm, width: 15 cm), petiole glabrescent (length: 35-45 cm). Flowers monoecious, grouped in panicles, axillary and interlayer compounds (length: 20 cm), with 24 male stamens. Inflorescences much longer than the leaves, stem length, divided into 15-19 rachillae, flowers are white, slightly elliptical, red, then mature, black-purple, fruits ellipsoid to obovoid (length: 17 mm, diameter: 11 mm). (From the French and Spanish) editing by edric.

Culture

It likes a warm, moist shaded location. Zone 10b-11.

Comments and Curiosities

"Incredibly beautiful clustering irregularly pinnate species from central America where it can grow up to 25' tall. It has wide, partially to completely divided leaflets but rarely has any 'windows' at the leaf bases like the smaller species, R gracilis. Not sure why it's call the window pane palm, then. But regardless, a great palm. Too bad it's so tropical in its needs... can't even begin to survive here in So Cal." (Geoff Stein), edric.

External Links

• Glossary of Palm Terms
• Pronunciation Key

References

Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos, edric.

Special thanks to palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos, edric.

Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.