Wodyetia bifurcata A. K. Irvine

Common name(s): Foxtail Palm

Family: Arecaceae
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Bark
Bark
Taken by Ken Harrington
Frond
Frond
Taken by Ken Harrington
Pinna
Pinna
Taken by Ken Harrington
Rachis_stem
Rachis / Stem
Taken by Ken Harrington
Fruit
Fruit
Taken by Ken Harrington
Fruit_immature
Fruit - Immature
Taken by Ken Harrington on 6th January, 2020 at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Queensland
Fruit_immature
Fruit - Immature
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Palm / Palm Ally Properties
Origin(s)
Australia
  • QLD: CO
Plant Type
Palm Fan-leaved, Solitary
Palm Fan-leaved,
Solitary
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full
Sun - Full
Habitat Range(s)
Forest - Grassy, Landscape, Open Woodlands
Forest - Grassy,
Landscape,
Open Woodlands
Habitat Zone(s)
Exposed Stony embankments, Garden, Heavy soils, Landscape, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Plains, Ridges, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Rock crevices, Rocky, Well drained
Exposed Stony embankments,
Garden,
Heavy soils,
Landscape,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Open areas,
Plains,
Ridges,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams,
Rock crevices,
Rocky,
Well drained
Mature Height
9-10m
9-10m
Mature Width
4-5m
4-5m
Growth Rate
Moderate
Moderate
Plant Shape
Standard Crown - Open
Standard Crown - Open
Standard Crown - Open Standard Crown - Open
Life Span
30-50yrs
30-50yrs
Frond Properties
Frond Colour(s) (front)
Glossy, Green Dark, Green Light, Green Mid
Glossy,
Green Dark,
Green Light,
Green Mid
Frond Colour(s) (back)
Dull, Green Dark, Green Light, Green Mid
Dull,
Green Dark,
Green Light,
Green Mid
Frond Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Ribbed
Ribbed
Glabrous Glabrous,
Ribbed Ribbed
Frond Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Ribbed
Ribbed
Glabrous Glabrous,
Ribbed Ribbed
Frond Length
3-3.5m
3-3.5m
Frond Aroma
None
None
Frond Shapes
Oblong
Oblong
Pinnate / Imparapinnate
Pinnate / Imparapinnate
Oblong Oblong,
Pinnate / Imparapinnate Pinnate / Imparapinnate
Frond Arrangement
Whorled
Whorled
Whorled Whorled
Trunk / Stem Properties
Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)
Green, Grey-green
Green,
Grey-green
Colour(s) (Base)
Grey, Grey Light, White
Grey,
Grey Light,
White
Texture (Upper)
Smooth
Smooth
Smooth Smooth
Ribbed-slightly
Ribbed-slightly
Texture (Base)
Ribbed-slightly
Ribbed-slightly
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Male
Colour(s)
Cream-white, Cream-yellow
Cream-white,
Cream-yellow
Flower Shape(s)
Filamental
Filamental
Male Staminate Flower
Male Staminate Flower
Filamental Filamental,
Male Staminate Flower Male Staminate Flower
Flower Size(s) Length
1.5-2mm
1.5-2mm
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar
Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar,
Pannicle Pannicle
Pendulous
Pendulous
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Insects
Bees,
Insects
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Same Flower Head
On Same Flower Head
Gender: Female
Colour(s)
Cream-white, Cream-yellow
Cream-white,
Cream-yellow
Flower Shape(s)
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower Female or Pistillate Flower
Flower Size(s) Length
< 1mm
< 1mm
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar
Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar,
Pannicle Pannicle
Pendulous
Pendulous
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Insects
Bees,
Insects
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Same Flower Head
On Same Flower Head
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Drupe
Drupe
Drupe Drupe
Shape(s)
Globose
Globose
Ovoid
Ovoid
Globose Globose,
Ovoid Ovoid
Length
40-50mm
40-50mm
Aroma
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root
Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root
Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony, Shaley
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Sand,
Stony,
Shaley
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Moist
Moist
Moist Moist
Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained
Poor,
Shallow,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
None
None
None None
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Bird Attraction
Nectar, Insect, Seed
Nectar,
Insect,
Seed
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
2nd Line
2nd Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Good
Good
Frost Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Smog Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Very Good
Very Good
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Container, Foliage, Foliage-Interesting, Fruit-decorative, Garden-Australian Native, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Shade tree-Light, Shady Dry, Specimen, Sunny Moist
Garden-Container,
Foliage,
Foliage-Interesting,
Fruit-decorative,
Garden-Australian Native,
Garden-Coastal,
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Rainforest,
Garden-Tropical,
Shade tree-Light,
Shady Dry,
Specimen,
Sunny Moist

General Notes

This palm was unheard of till an Aboriginal man in 1978 brought it to botanists and the world's attention. Named after the man 'Wodyeti', his peoples name for him. A rare palm in its natural habitat.

Male flower about 15mm across and female flowers about 10mm across, are borne on the same pannicle, in cluster of three, one female flanked by two male flowers.

There are 6 - 10 fronds in the crown with 90 - 107 primary pinnae divided with and 765 - 950 secondary pinnae.

A striking, solitary, single, slightly bottle shaped trunked, palm with the appearance of cylindrical frond arrangement to form the plumed foxtail, for the common name. The lower trunk has leaf scar's, showing as rings and as the palm matures the trunk becomes almost white from the younger green-grey. It is a self cleaning palm, as in, it drops its fronds as they get older and die back, leaving a clean trunk. Highly adaptable.