Verschaffeltia splendida

Verschaffeltia
(vehr-shaf-FELT-ee-ah)
splendida (splehn-DEE-dah)

New Leaf, Hawaii.

Scientific Classification

Genus:	Verschaffeltia (vehr-shaf-FELT-ee-ah)
Species:	splendida (splehn-DEE-dah)

Synonyms

None set.

Native Continent

Oceania

Morphology

Habit:	Solitary
Leaf type:	Pinnate

Culture

Survivability index

Common names

Seychelles Stilt Palm, Latanier Latte.

Habitat and Distribution

Verschaffeltia splendida is Endemic to the Seychelles. Mountainous Rain Forest.

Hawaii. Photo by BGL, edric.

Description

Erect palm up to 25 m tall, usually much shorter. Trunk smooth but scarred where leaves have fallen; spiny when young; rings of dark spines pointing downwards at top of trunk on older trees; numerous aerial roots at the base. Leaves up to 3 m long with bi-lobed apex. Leaf stalks (petioles) spiny on young trees only. Flower stalks (inflorescences) up to 2 m long, drooping beneath leaves of crown. Fruits spherical, brownish-green becoming red when mature.

The distinguishing feature of this palm from the Seychelles, is the stilt roots supporting the slender stem. The leaves split along the margins irregularly with age, and may appear pinnate. The dark brown fruit that are produced on hanging infructescences are 2-3 cm long. (James Cook University)

Culture

Comments and Curiosities

This is a monotypic genus.

External Links

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.

Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).

IMAGE GALLERY
Hawaii.
Ho'omaluhia, Hawaii.
Ho'omaluhia, Hawaii.
Hawaii..
New Leaf, Hawaii.
Hawaii. Photo by BGL, edric.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garde, Florida. Photo by Dr. Carl E. Lewis/Palmweb.
National Tropical Botanic Garden, Hawaii. Photo by Dr. William J. Baker, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Bogor, Java, Indonesia. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Mah, Seychelles. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garde, Florida. Photo by Dr. Carl E. Lewis/Palmweb.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey, UK. Photo by Dr. William J. Baker, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden, edric.
Peradeniya botanic garden, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
Peradeniya botanic garden, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
Nephrosperma van-houtteanum on the left and two Verschaffeltia splendida middle and right. Peradeniya botanic garden, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
2010 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
1/2011 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
8/2011 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
8/2011 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
4/2012 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
4/2012 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
12/2012 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
12/2012 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
12/2012 In Philippe's garden in Doranakanda, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
In Brief Garden, Bentota, Sri Lanka. Photo by Philippe, edric.
Saint Denis, La Réunion Island. "Photo by Olivier Reilhes", edric.
Saint Denis, La Réunion Island. "Photo by Olivier Reilhes", edric.
Medellin, Columbia. (1,500 Mts. or 5,000 feet above see level), Photo by Jeff Anderson, edric.
Disney's Animal Kingdom, orlando, FL. Photo by Eric S., Botonist, H.P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, FL., edric.
Miami, FL. Photo by Kyle Wicomb, edric.
Photo-edenproject.com
Photo-edenproject.com
Photo-edenproject.com
Photo-edenproject.com