Palmiste marron (Hyophorbe verschaffeltii)
Description
Hyophorbe verschaffeltii (the palmiste marron or spindle palm) is a critically endangered species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family. It is endemic to Rodrigues island, Mauritius, but is widely grown in cultivation. The spindle palm is 6 metres (20 ft) tall, and have lightly recurved pinnate leaves. They are elegant looking and are prized for landscape in the tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world. They are fairly short with 8-10 leaves that are held somewhat erect. Spindle palms have a crownshaft that becomes a light gray-green as the palm ages. Horn-like flower spikes emerge from below the crownshaft on mature specimens. Their fruits darken to a black colour when ripe. It was named after Ambroise Verschaffelt, (1825-1886). It sometimes resembles its closest relative, the "Bottle Palm" (Hyophorbe lagenicaulis). Both of these species develop swollen trunks. However the Spindle Palm's trunk starts to swell in the middle (assuming the shape of a spindle). The Bottle Palm's trunk continues to swell at the base (often resembling the shape of a bottle). The Spindle Palm's foliage also has a more yellowish colour.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Arecales
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Family: Arecaceae
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Genus: Hyophorbe
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