Indigenous palms of India (General Article: by A. R. Kulkarni and R. M. Mulani- Palms stand next to grasses in the socio-economy of the human race, apart from their significant
contribution to beautify the urban landscapes as horticultural ornamentals. This group in India is
represented by 20 genera and about 96 species among which 24 species belonging to nine genera
are endemic to India. Most of our forest palms are experiencing severe threat to their existence,
mainly due to anthropogenic factors. Measures for their conservation, worthy of mention, are
almost nil. The present article is a review of Indian palms with reference to their diversity, distribution,
ecology, status and relevance in native economy along with a brief account of some endemic/
endangered taxa. A note on the strategies for their conservation and possible commercial exploitation
has been appended.) Palms of Southern Asia by Andrew Henderson (2009)- Introduction & keys to the genera (pdf in 18 pages) Palms of Southern Asia by Andrew Henderson (2009)- Preview of some pages University Botany- Iii : (Plant Taxonomy, Plant Embryology, Plant ..., Volume 3 By S.M. Reddy (2004)- Details As already announced our next Fortnight episode in August, from 1 to 14 will include Araceae, Arecaceae and Zingiberaceae. Following experts have agreed to coordinate ................................ Arecaceae Mr. Shrikant Ingalhalikar Members are requested to kindly adjust subject line accordingly for the convenience of experts: "Araceae, Arecaceae and Zingiberaceae Fortnight: Arecaceae......................" ...................................... Please don't forget to include your serial number at the end of subject line, say GSAUG01, GSAUG02, etc, repl GS with your initials. For non botanists genera covered under each family have been listed by ... in another thread. Araceae, Arecaceae and Zingiberaceae Fortnight: August 1 to 14, 2014 : 9 posts by 3 authors. Our next monthly Fortnight would cover Araceae, Arecaceae and Zingiberaceae from August 1 to 14, 2014. Members are requested to kindly organise their photographs for upload during the Fortnight. Hope this proves to be another successful Fortnight. Aracaceae Fortnight 1-14 Aug 2014 : 4 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (1)- Arecaceae.docx I am attaching an introductory write up on Arecaceae. Members are requested to update it. (From Shrikant Ingalhalikar) Arecaceae Fortnight 1 Aug to 15 Aug 2014 1. IntroductionArecaceae or Palmae is an ancient and fourth largest family among monocotyledons (Sub-class Spadiciflorae) after Orchidaceae, Poaceae and Liliaceae. Palms are mostly tropical and can be found in all habitats from rain forests, deserts to mangroves. Palms, the only trees in monocots, are mostly erect in habit except in Calamus genus which are climbing shrubs. They have uniform, cylindrical, woody stem for a considerable height which is either solitary or clustering at base. The stems are usually smooth with rings or scars of fallen leaves or have persistent leaf bases. The stem is usually un-branched except in Hyphaene and Nypa genera. In some cases the stem may be underground or absent. The stem grows with the same width right from seedling stage without any secondary thickening. The stem is composed of vascular bundles covered with hard sheaths. There is no bark and the nutrients are passed throughout the stem unlike in dicots. In some palms the top of the stem has a crown shaft formed by tubular leaf bases. The crown shaft protects the terminal leaf bud. Palm leaves (fronds) are crowded at the top of the stem. They have stout, long petioles that may be covered with spines, fiber or net. Palm leaves have entire or divided leaflets in 3 types viz. pinnate, palmate and costa-palmate. The leaf type forms the major diagnostic feature in their identification. Dead leaves often hang down forming a ‘petticoat’ around the trunk. The pinnate leaves have leaflets on both sides of the leaf stalk (rachis) beyond the petiole. Lower leaflets are often modified into spines. In some pinnate leaves the leaflets are attached in multiple planes. In Caryota palms the leaflets are double pinnate. In palmate or fan shaped leaves a circular or partially circular lamina is divided into segments radially around the tip of the petiole. The projection at the tip of petioles is known as hastula which has a shape characteristic of species. The segments of palmate leaves can be uncut, partially cut or fully cut which may be characteristic of species. In some fan shaped leaves the petiole extends into the lamina to form a rib between segments. The lamina of costa-palmate leaves is ovate in shape and the rib arches down; such leaf appears to be a combination of pinnate and palmate leaf. Palm inflorescences are on axillary spadices. The flowers may be bisexual or unisexual, on the same or separate plants. Palm fruits are edible or non edible and vary to a great extent in size and shape. 2. Economic Uses Next to Poaceae, Arecaceae is the most important family that provides source of food. Fruits, sago, sugar, toddy and cooking oils are produced from palms. Palm stems and leaves are used in house building. Wax, fibers, canes are other products of economic importance. 3. Horticultural Uses Palms are extremely popular in urban landscapes due to following features. 3.1 Palms have a small spread of roots above and below ground. They need small floor space. 3.2 Palm stems are uniform in shape, thickness and height. They occupy small space above ground. 3.3 The crown of palm leaves has a beautiful dome shape. 3.4 Palm leaves are few in number, they are evergreen. They do not produce any leaf litter. 3.5 Grown up palms can be transplanted easily and successfully. 3.6 Palms of many species grown to full height are available from nurseries. 3.7 Some small sized palms make beautiful indoor plants due to their attractive foliage. 4. Species of Arecaceae Trees in India classified using characters of stems and leaves. (Note- Calamus genus is not included. This is not an exhaustive list or a dichotomous key. Species can be added in respective groups.) Leaves Pinnate Crown-Shaft Present Stem Single Stem slender, grey Carpentaria acuminata Stem slender, crown-shaft long Areca catechu Stem slender, crown-shaft white Veitchia arecina Stem slender, leaflets drooping Howea forsteriana Stem slender, leaves arching Ptychosperma elegans Stem slender, skirt of dead leaves Attalea speciosa Stem slender, petioles spiny Nephrosperma van-houtteanum Stem slender, short; leaflets pointed Chamaedorea elegans Stem flask shaped Hyophorbe lagenicaulis Stem spindle shaped Hyophorbe verschaffeltii Stem bottle shaped Roystonea regia Stem tapering, leaves twisted Ravenea rivularis Stem conical at base, leaflets uni planer Archontophoenix alexandrae Stem conical at base, leaflets multi planer Roystonea oleracea Stem conical at base, leaflets close Dictyosperma album Leaves bright red when young Chambeyronia macrocarpa Leaves double feathered, Stem thick Caryota urens* Leaves double feathered, Stem slender Caryota rumphiana Leaflets multi planer Wodyetia bifurcata Leaves shallowly divided Phoenicophorium borsigianum Crown-shaft long Adonidia merrilli Crown-shaft triangular Dypsis decaryi Crown-shaft red, Stem grey Dypsis leptocheilos Stem Clustered Leaves double feathered Caryota mitis Petioles red Cyrtostachys renda Leaves arched Dypsis lutescens Stems sparsely clustered Dypsis madagascariensis Leaves short arched, leaflets blunt Ptychosperma macarthuri Crown-Shaft absent Stem Single Leaflets folded, lower leaflets reduced to spines Stem stout, 20 m, leaves 6 m Phoenix canariensis Stem stout, 8 m, leaves 6 m Phoenix dactylifera Stem stout, 6 m, leaves 2 m Phoenix robusta* Stem slender, 3 m, leaves 1 m Phoenix roebelenii Stem slender, 6 m, leaves twisted Phoenix rupicola Stem slender, 15 m, leaves 4 m Phoenix sylvestris* Leaflets Multi planer Stem with persistent leaf bases Syagrus coronata Stem slender, 15 m tall Syagrus romanzoffiana Stem slender, 30 m tall Syagrus sancona Leaflets not as above Leaflets triangular, spinous Aiphanes erosa Fruits large edible Cocos nucifera Leaves long, persistent leaf bases Elaeis guineensis Leaves on 2 sides of stem Wallichia disticha Leaves erect and long Attalea cohune Petioles spinous Butia capitata Stem Clustered Leaflets close, Flowers fragrant Arenga engleri Leaflets distant, lobed at apex, auricled at base Arenga wightii* Leaflets distant, Stem slender Chamaedorea seifritzii
Leaves Palmate Stem Single Leaves undivided Licuala grandis Leaves shallowly divided, leaflets narrow Pritchardia pacifica Stem rough, leaflets drooping Livistona chinensis Stem glossy brown, leaflets straight Livistona rotundifolia Stem ringed, petioles long, leflets finely divided Livistona decora Stem taller, thinner, tapering at base Washingtonia robusta Petioles covered with white powder Latania loddigesii Dead leaves hang like a petticoat Washingtonia filifera Petioles and veins red Latania lontaroides Petioles and veins yellow Latania verschaffeltii Fruits white, 1 cm Thrinax parviflora Leaves silvery, Hastula orange Coccothrinax argentea Leaflets silvery green, deeply cut Copernicia prunifera Petioles with long spines Corypha umbraculifera* Inflorescence large, white Brahea armata Stem Clustered Leaves deeply divided, Stem slender Acoelorrhaphe wrightii Leaves deeply divided, Stem thick Chamaerops humilis Leaves fully divided, stem cane like Rhapis excelsa Leaves fully divided Licuala spinosa
Leaves Costa-palmate Stem branching Hyphaene dichotoma* Fruits black, 1 cm Sabal palmetto Stem robust, grey Sabal causiarum Petioles stout, Fruits 15 cm, black Borassus flabellifer* Stem slender Sabal mauritiiformis Leaves shallowly divided, leaflets broad Bismarckia nobilis
* Wild Thanks, ..., for the wonderful write up. Thanks ... I hope we are able to generate an updated list of all native and exotic species of Arecaceae found in India. Species & genera pages of Arecaceae are now with images : 1 post by 1 author. Species & genera pages of Arecaceae in efloraofindia are now with images. It involves inserting images on around 89 species pages (say around 350 images) & 50 genera pages. It also involved a lot of cleansing work like deletion of duplicate / wrong pages, correctly identify some of the threads, putting them at their proper place, proper formatting of the species pages etc. Lot of pages were already done by ... & others. I request our members to pl. take up one family each & try to make efloraofindia more constructive. We will be rendering what ever assistance is required by the members, in this matter. |