Archontophoenix alexandrae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Archontophoenix
Species:
A. alexandrae
Binomial name
Archontophoenix alexandrae
Synonyms[3]
  • Archontophoenix alexandrae var. beatriceae (F.Muell.) C.T.White
  • Archontophoenix alexandrae var. schizanthera H.Wendl. & Drude
  • Jessenia glazioviana Dammer
  • Ptychosperma alexandrae F.Muell.
  • Ptychosperma beatriceae F.Muell.
  • Ptychosperma drudei H.Wendl. ex Benth. & Hook.f.
  • Saguaster drudei (H.Wendl. ex Benth. & Hook.f.) Kuntze

Archontophoenix alexandrae, commonly known as Alexandra palm, king palm, northern Bangalow palm, or feather palm,[4][5][6] is a palm endemic to Queensland, Australia. It was named in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark,[7] but is often erroneously referred to by the misnomer Alexander palm.

Description

Archontophoenix alexandrae is a tall, solitary palm growing to a height of 30 m (98 ft) with a trunk up to 30 cm (12 in) diameter, often swollen at the base, and bearing prominent leaf scars.[4][5] The graceful crown has 8 to 10 pinnate, feather-like fronds that measure up to 4.5 m (15 ft) in length, with 60 to 80 leaflets on each side of the midrib.[4][7] The pinnae are dark green above and silvery-grey underneath, measuring up to 75 cm (30 in) long, and the entire frond is usually twisted laterally.[4][5] At the base of each frond is a large crownshaft up to 1 m (3.3 ft) high, coloured light green.[4]

Flowers

Alexandra palm with a number of inflorescences in various stages of development

The inflorescence of Archontophoenix alexandrae is a panicle, creamy white when first released from the protective sheath or prophyll that it develops within, and transitioning through light green as the fruits develop and finally to brown when it is shed from the tree. It measures between 50 and 100 cm (20 and 39 in) wide by 50 cm (20 in) long, and arises from the base of the crownshaft.[4][5][7] Flowering occurs randomly throughout the year,[7] and it is not uncommon to find a group of these palms, some of which carry fruit and/or flowers while others carry neither. Individual flowers are 3-petalled, creamy-white in colour and quite small—the staminate (functionally male) flowers measuring up to 10 mm (0.39 in) wide and the pistillate (functionally female) flowers up to 4 mm (0.16 in).[4]

Fruit

The fruits are ovoid to globose with a persistent calyx. They are initially green turning bright red when ripe. They measure around 10–14 mm (0.39–0.55 in) in diameter and contain a single seed about 8 mm (0.31 in) diameter.[4][7]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described as Ptychosperma alexandrae by Ferdinand von Mueller in his Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae in 1865.[8] In 1875 the German botanists Hermann Wendland and Oscar Drude published a treatment of Australian palms in the journal Linnaea titled Palmae Australasicae, in which this species was renamed Archontophoenix alexandrae.[9]

Etymology

The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek ἄρχων (árkhōn), meaning "chieftain" or "ruler", combined with the palm genus Phoenix, and refers to the regal stature of the trees. The species epithet is given in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark.[7][10]

Distribution and habitat

Alexandra palms dominate the forest in the flood zone beside Freshwater Creek, Cairns, Queensland.

The native range of this species is north-east and central-east Queensland, from the Melville Range in Cape York Peninsula to south of Gladstone.[5][7] The altitudinal range is from sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft), although it is most commonly found in lowland riparian rainforest alongside river courses and swamps, often in locations that are severely inundated during heavy rain events.[4][7] Their ability to withstand these conditions allow them to become the dominant species.

Ecology

The fruit of the Alexandra palm is eaten by many bird species,[7] notably the metallic starling (Aplonis metallica), which often descend on a tree as a flock and may consume all of the ripe fruits within an hour. Other common bird species include the Torresian imperial pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa) and the wompoo fruit dove (Ptilinopus magnificus). Fruits are also eaten by fruit bats and the musky rat-kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus).[7]

Uses

The Kuku Yalanji people of Far North Queensland ate the palm heart of this species.[11]

Cultivation

This species is easily grown from fresh seed, and is very popular in cultivation in Australia, both for private gardens and as a street and park tree.[4][12] It is fast growing and will tolerate cooler climates outside the tropics where there are no frosts, and has been widely planted in many countries. It has become naturalised in Hawaii.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group & Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). (2021). "Archontophoenix alexandrae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T67530447A192233901. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T67530447A192233901.en. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Species profile—Archontophoenix alexandrae (Alexandra palm)". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Archontophoenix alexandrae (F.Muell.) H.Wendl. & Drude". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 F.A. Zich; B.P.M Hyland; T. Whiffen; R.A. Kerrigan (2020). "Archontophoenix alexandrae (F.Muell.) H.Wendl. & Drude". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants, Edition 8. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Archontophoenix alexandrae". Palm and Cycad Society of Australia. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "Feather Palm Forest" (PDF). Catanna Wetlands - Cairns Regional Council. Cairns Regional Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 67. ISBN 9780958174213. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "Ptychosperma alexandrae F.Muell". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "Archontophoenix alexandrae var. schizanthera H.Wendl. & Drude". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Archontophoenix H.Wendl. & Drude, Linnaea 39: 182 (1875)". PalmWeb. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  11. ↑ Roberts, John; Fisher, Colin (CJ); Gibson, Roy (1995). A Guide to Traditional Aboriginal Rainforest Plant Use. Mossman, Queensland: Bamanga Bubu Ngadimumku Inc. p. 27. ISBN 0-646-22991-5.
  12. ↑ Jones, David L. (1986). Rainforest Plants of Australia. Reed Books. p. 326. ISBN 0-7301-0381-1.
  13. ↑ "Archontophoenix alexandrae" (PDF). Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR). Retrieved 21 March 2021.
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