Dypsis corniculata (Becc.) Beentje & J.Dransf., Palms Madagascar : 280 (1995)

Primary tabs

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Content

Introduction

  • TA This is a very beautiful small and neat undergrowth palm with slender stems and dark green, shiny leaves. Based originally on a single inflorescence, this species remained for long a misunderstood taxon. The specific name is Latin for 'curved in the shape of a horn', presumably a reference to the young fruit. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Distribution

Mananara, Mandritsara, Sainte-Marie, Betampona. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Rain forest, flat to steep mid slopes or ridgetops; 70-850 m. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Conservation

  • Vulnerable. Numbers are thought to be low (less than two hundred). (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Common Name

  • Not recorded. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Uses

  • Not recorded. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Description

  • Clustering palm in groups of 5, or solitary but in subcolonial groups. STEMS 1.5-6 m tall, occasionally with remnants of sheath bases; distal internodes 0.8-2 cm long, 5-20 mm diam., greybrown, distally reddish pubescent; crownshaft pale green with dark brown scales. LEAVES 6-10 in the crown; sheath 6-15 cm, with patches of reddish scales or with scattered scales, with laciniate auricles to 15 mm; petiole absent or up to 7.5 cm long, 2-2.5 mm diam., with scattered scales; rachis 13-40 cm long, in mid-leaf c. 2 mm wide, with dense to scattered scales; leaflets 9-18 on each side of the rachis, in groups of 2-4 but sometimes the distal ones regular, the group interval 3-6 cm, the proximal 4- 10 x 0.4-1.8 cm, median 6-14 x 1.2-2.6 cm, distal 5-10 x 1-2.5 cm, main veins 1-3, with marginal bands of scattered scales, sometimes with scattered scales on the major and minor veins, and distally along the margin with some larger scales, apices unequally acuminate to almost praemorse, bases often flat and connate with the rachis for c. 5 mm, distal pair joined for 1.5-4 cm, with bands of scattered scales, dentate at the apex. INFLORESCENCE interfoliar, branched to 1 or 2 order(s); peduncle 9-26 cm long, distally 2-5 mm diam., pubescent or with scattered to dense red-brown scales; prophyll 16-27 x 0.6 cm, borne at c. 6 cm above the base of the peduncle, with scattered scales, the apex open for 1-2 cm; peduncular bract inserted at 4-15 cm from the base of the peduncle, 4-11 cm long, with scattered scales, open over its whole length except for a 5 mm beak, deciduous and carried upwards by the lengthening INFLORESCENCE; non-tubular peduncular bract 1-20 mm, sometimes almost tubular; rachis 1-9 cm long, scaly, with 0-6 branched and 3-16 unbranched branches; rachillae (3-) 6- 14 cm long, 1-1.5 mm diam., slightly zigzag, minutely puberulous with a few scales, with distant triads. STAMINATE FLOWERS with sepals 1-1.5 x 1-2.1 mm, the middle one very asymmetric, ciliolate; petals white, 2.2-2.5 x 1.2-1.4 mm, on a 0.4 mm high receptacle; stamens 6, uniseriate, the filaments 0.6-1 mm, thin, anthers 0.7-1.5 x 0.4-0.8 mm, versatile; pistillode 0.6-0.8 x 0.2-0.3 mm. PISTILLATE FLOWERS with sepals 0.9-1.7 x 1-2.4 mm, orbicular, slightly keeled, entire, the innermost largest; petals 2-3.5 x 2.3-3.5 mm, suborbicular, striate, imbricate with brief triangular valvate apices; staminodes 6, 0.2-0.6 mm; pistil 1.5-3.6 x 0.8-2.2 mm. FRUIT red, ellipsoid, 10-12 x 4-5.5 mm, with an obtuse point; endocarp fibrous, the fibres free or slghtly anastomosing. SEED c. 7.5 x 4.5 mm, pointed at the base, rounded at the apex, with a median depression and homogeneous endosperm. (Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H. 1995: The Palms of Madagascar