Common name: kentia palm, thatch palm
Howea forsteriana (C.Moore & F.Muell.) Becc. APNI* Description: Slender palm to 20 m tall.
Leaves pinnate, 3–4(-5) m long, horizontal to drooping.
Inflorescence of 3–5(-8) spikes, pendulous; spikes 0.7–1.3 m long. Male flowers creamy brown; stamens 65–100.
Fruit an ellipsoid drupe, gradually tapering towards apex, 3–5 cm long, bright or dull red.
Flowering: Flowers mid Aug – late October
Distribution and occurrence: Endemic to Lord Howe Island. On coralline and basaltic soils, from sea level to c. 300 m altitude, often in pure stands.
NSW subdivisions: LHI
Widely cultivated.
Text by K.L. Wilson (2004)
Taxon concept: P.S. Green, Flora of Australia vol 49 (1994)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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