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:	Bifid (entire leaf), divided along margins.

Culture

Survivability index

Common names

Seychelles Stilt Palm, Latanier Latte.

Habitat and Distribution

Verschaffeltia splendida is Endemic to the Seychelles. This canopy or under-story tree grows in moist tropical forests, on steep hillsides and ledges, from near sea level up to 850 m altitude, and is common above 300 m.

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

Tropical in its requirements, but will grow in a sheltered position in the sub-tropics. Likes a position sheltered from the wind, (to keep the leaves intact), full sun or shade, and moist, but well drained soil.

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b firm.

Comments and Curiosities

This is a monotypic genus.

Uses: The timber from this palm was historically used for the production of water gutters and the walls of huts.

Conservation: Verschaffeltia splendida has a very restricted range as it occurs only on three islands in the Seychelles. It does not seem to be obviously threatened except by its restricted range. The invasion of alien plant species and habitat loss due to human settlements are potential threats to this species, but it does not seem to be strongly affected by these threats. It is listed as Near Threatened, because of the gradual reduction of its natural habitats from the invasion of alien plants such as true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) and Malabar plum (Syzygium jambos).

"Magnificent palm with spiny trunk, large, mostly unsplit wide leaves and ALWAYS has stilt roots. This is the priemier stilt root palm to grow in the tropics- it's a reliable and relatively fast grower there (hopeless here in southern California). In its native Seychelles, it can grow up to 80', high on steep, moutain slopes." (Geoff Stein)

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
Photo by Peter Richardson, edric.
Photo by Peter Richardson, edric.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Drew Avery, edric.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Drew Avery, edric.
Whitsundays, Nth Queensland, Australia. Photo by Richard Ellem, edric.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Lyon Arboretum, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Lyon Arboretum, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Hawaii. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Conservatory plant, southern California. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.