Dypsis lutescens H. Wendl., Beentje& JDransf.

Common name(s): Golden Cane Palm, Areca Palm, Yellow Palm, Butterfly Palm

Family: Arecaceae (Palmae) Synonym(s): Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wedl., Areca flavescens Voss., Chrysalidocarpus baronii var. littoralis Jum. & H. Perrier, Chrysalidocarpus glaucescens Waby

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond

Taken by Ken Harrington

Pinna

Taken by Ken Harrington

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 6th January, 2020 at Mt Coot tha Botanical Gardens, Queensland

Stem (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington on 6th January, 2020

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Palm / Palm Ally Properties

Origin(s)

Madagascar

Madagascar: Indigenous

Plant Type

Clumping, Frond Self Cleaning, Palm, Palm Feather-leaved

Clumping,

Frond Self Cleaning,

Palm,

Palm Feather-leaved

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Temperate Warm, Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Monsoon

Temperate Warm,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical,

Tropical Monsoon

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Morning, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light

Sun - Morning,

Shade - Dappled,

Shade - Light

Habitat Range(s)

Coastal, Forest - Littoral, Heath

Coastal,

Forest - Littoral,

Heath

Habitat Zone(s)

Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Landscape, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Rock crevices, Rocky, Sandy Moist, Understory, Wasteland / Disturbed Sites, Well drained

Garden,

Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,

Landscape,

Moist areas,

Moist Slopes,

Rock crevices,

Rocky,

Sandy Moist,

Understory,

Wasteland / Disturbed Sites,

Well drained

Mature Height

6-7m, 7-8m, 8-9m

6-7m,

7-8m,

8-9m

Mature Width

750mm-1m, 1-2m

750mm-1m,

1-2m

Growth Rate

Slow, Moderate

Slow,

Moderate

Plant Shape

Vase shaped

Life Span

15-30yrs

Frond Properties

Frond Colour(s) (front)

Glossy, Green, Yellow-green

Glossy,

Green,

Yellow-green

Frond Colour(s) (back)

Green, Yellow-green

Green,

Yellow-green

Frond Texture (front)

Glabrous

Leathery

Waxy

Glabrous,

Leathery,

Waxy

Frond Texture (back)

Glabrous

Leathery

Waxy

Glabrous,

Leathery,

Waxy

Frond Length

2.5-2.75m, 2.75-3m

2.5-2.75m,

2.75-3m

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Shapes

Pinnate / Parapinnate

Frond Arrangement

Stemmed Open Crown

Whorled

Stemmed Open Crown,

Whorled

Frond Attachment

Complete Sheaf

Pinna Shape(s) (Frondlet)

Lanceolate

Linear

Lanceolate,

Linear

Pinna Width (Frondlet)

15-20mm, 20-25mm, 25-30mm, 30-40mm

15-20mm,

20-25mm,

25-30mm,

30-40mm

Pinnae Arrangement

Even Pinnae

Pinnule Apice(s) (Leaflet)

Acute Narrowly

Pinnule Base(s) (Leaflet)

Attenuate

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Pinnule Cross Section(s) (Leaflet)

Induplicate

Pinnule Venation (Leaflet)

Parallel

Sheath Length(s)

400-500mm, 500-600mm

400-500mm,

500-600mm

Sheath Width(s)

150-200mm, 200-250mm

150-200mm,

200-250mm

Sheath Colour(s)

Yellow-golden, Yellow-white

Yellow-golden,

Yellow-white

Petiole Length

150-200mm, 200-250mm, 250-300mm, 300-400mm

150-200mm,

200-250mm,

250-300mm,

300-400mm

Petiole Cross Section

Channelled

Petiole Texture

Glabrous

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Smooth,

Waxy

Petiole Feature(s)

Maculate

Plain

Maculate,

Plain

Trunk / Stem Properties

Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)

Silver-green, Yellow-golden

Silver-green,

Yellow-golden

Colour(s) (Base)

Grey Light, Silver-green, Silver-grey

Grey Light,

Silver-green,

Silver-grey

Texture (Base)

Glabrous

Cross Section

Terete

Features

Bamboo-like Stem

Distinct Growth Rings, Smooth Trunk

Bamboo-like Stem,

Distinct Growth Rings, Smooth Trunk

Construction

Pith Continuous

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Male

Flowering Time (start)

Summer Early

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Late

Colour(s)

Yellow

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Axillary, Interfoliar Short

Pannicle

Axillary, Interfoliar Short,

Pannicle

Pendulous

Arrangement Size(s)

800-900mm, 900mm-1m

800-900mm,

900mm-1m

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects

Bees,

Insects

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Same Flower Head

Gender: Female

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Drupe

Shape(s)

Ellipsoid

Obovoid

Ellipsoid,

Obovoid

Outer Colour(s)

Purple, Red

Purple,

Red

Outer Texture

Glabrous

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Smooth,

Waxy

Length

5-10mm

Aroma

None

Seed Properties

Type

Nut

Shape(s)

Ovoid

Texture(s)

Fibrous , Hard

Fibrous,

Hard

Size

10-15mm

Seed Dispersal

Animals, Birds, Water

Animals,

Birds,

Water

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

Rhizome Stoloniferous

Texture

Cord-like , Pliable

Cord-like,

Pliable

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Stony

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral

Condition(s)

Damp

Moist

Damp,

Moist

Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

None

Bird Attraction

None

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

Poor

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Very Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed

Fire Retarding

Poor

Drought Tolerance

Poor

Frost Tolerance

None

Smog Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Landscape Use

Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Pests/Diseases

Mealy Bug, Red Spider Mite, Scale, White Fly

Mealy Bug,

Red Spider Mite,

Scale,

White Fly

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Container, Erosion Control, Foliage-Interesting, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Formal, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Hedge-informal, Pond Edge, Pool Side, Sand Binder, Screen, Shade Tolerant, Shady Moist, Soil Binder, Suckering, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Garden-Container,

Erosion Control,

Foliage-Interesting,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Foliage,

Garden-Formal,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Rainforest,

Garden-Tropical,

Hedge-informal,

Pond Edge,

Pool Side,

Sand Binder,

Screen,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Moist,

Soil Binder,

Suckering,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant-Cockatoo's,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's,

Tolerant-Parrot's,

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Propagation

Fresh Seed, Offsets

Weed Potential(s)

Cuba

Cuba: Naturalised

Dominican Republic

Dom. Repub: Naturalised

Haiti

Haiti: Naturalised

Jamaica

Jamaica: Naturalised

Puerto Rico

Puerto Ric: Naturalised

Réunion

Reunion: Naturalised

United States

Florida: Naturalised

Saint Kitts and Nevis

St Kitts: Naturalised

Saint Martin (French part)

Saint Mart: Naturalised

Virgin Islands, U.S.

Virgin Is.: Naturalised

Netherlands

Saba: Naturalised
St. Eusrat: Naturalised
Bonaire: Naturalised

Spain

Canary Is.: Naturalised

General Notes

Erect to arching fronds with green to golden-yellow petiole and rachis (stems) with a silver-green trunk, makes this a stunning clumping palm for indoor, garden or landscape. The clump can consist of 4 - 20 stems with 5 - 11 fronds per stem.

The frond has 40 - 60 pairs of pinnae (leaflets) on the rachis.

It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit

Propagation Notes

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Fresh Seed

Flowering

Dec, Jan, Feb

Seed Collecting

Jul, Aug, Sep

Sowing

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Material Preparation

The seed takes 6 - 9 mths to ripen. Using gloves to avoid the oxanate crystals in the skin and flesh, pick the fruit when it is very orange - red, off the tree or from off the ground. Peel off the outer flesh or if too hard, soak the seeds in warm water for 48 - 72 hours to loosen the outer flesh. Change the water daily. Discard any seeds that float to the top, keep the ones that sink. Floating seeds won't germinate as they lack an endosperm. Wash the seeds thoroughly with Solvol soap to remove any remaining pulp. Allow to dry. Store in a cool, dark place. It is best to sow the seed as soon as possible for best results.

Viability:- 6 - 12 months

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

Treatment

Sow fresh seed into P2 tubes or seedling trays and cover with mix, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in hothouse on 21°C heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 2 - 3 months 4 – 6 months before first frond opens

Pricking out:- 4 - 6 months after germination

Tube Mix:- Premium Seed Raising Mix

Offsets

Flowering

Dec, Jan, Feb

Division

Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Material Preparation

Select offsets that are approximately a 200 - 500mm. With a sharp knife or secateurs, slice down the side of the stem of the mother plant to remove the offset with roots attached. Keep moist with misting or place in a bucket of water

Propagating Mix

Premium Potting Soil

Treatment

1/2 fill the 140mm pot with mix. Hold the offset over the soil mix in the pot and back fill around the offset and firm down. The offset should stand firm and be approximately the same depth as the original soil level, not too deep or it will rot. Water the pots of mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in hot house, keep moist. Maintain hot house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-95 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 12 - 16 weeks

Nursery Stock 12 - 16 weeks