Wodyetia bifurcata A. K. Irvine

Common name(s): Foxtail Palm

Family: Arecaceae

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond

Taken by Ken Harrington

Pinna

Taken by Ken Harrington

Rachis / Stem

Taken by Ken Harrington

Fruit

Taken by Ken Harrington

Fruit - Immature

Taken by Ken Harrington on 6th January, 2020 at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Queensland

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

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

Mature Width

4-5m

Growth Rate

Moderate

Plant Shape

Standard Crown - Open

Life Span

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

Ribbed

Glabrous,

Ribbed

Frond Texture (back)

Glabrous

Ribbed

Glabrous,

Ribbed

Frond Length

3-3.5m

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Shapes

Oblong

Pinnate / Imparapinnate

Oblong,

Pinnate / Imparapinnate

Frond Arrangement

Whorled

Frond Attachment

Complete Sheaf

Pinna Shape(s) (Frondlet)

Linear

Pinna Length (Frondlet)

450-500mm, 500-550mm, 550-600mm, 600-650mm, 650-700mm

450-500mm,

500-550mm,

550-600mm,

600-650mm,

650-700mm

Pinna Width (Frondlet)

1-5mm, 5-10mm, 10-15mm, 15-20mm, 20-25mm, 25-30mm, 30-40mm, 40-50mm

1-5mm,

5-10mm,

10-15mm,

15-20mm,

20-25mm,

25-30mm,

30-40mm,

40-50mm

Pinnae Arrangement

Plumose Pinnae

Pinnule Length

300-400mm

Pinnule Width (Leaflet)

25-30mm

Pinnule Apice(s) (Leaflet)

Obliquely Praemorse

Pinnule Base(s) (Leaflet)

Truncate

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Pinnule Cross Section(s) (Leaflet)

Reduplicate

Pinnule Venation (Leaflet)

Parallel

Pinnule Attachment (Leaflet)

Sessile

Pinnule Arrangement (Leaflet)

Whorled

Petiole Length

300-400mm

Petiole Texture

Smooth

Waxy

Smooth,

Waxy

Petiole Feature(s)

Plain

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

Ribbed-slightly

Texture (Base)

Ribbed-slightly

Cross Section

Terete

Diameter

200-250mm, 250-300mm

200-250mm,

250-300mm

Length

7.5-8m, 8.8.5m, 8.5-9m

7.5-8m,

8.8.5m,

8.5-9m

Features

Prominent Growth Rings as Ridge Steps

Construction

Pith Continuous

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Male

Colour(s)

Cream-white, Cream-yellow

Cream-white,

Cream-yellow

Flower Shape(s)

Filamental

Male Staminate Flower

Filamental,

Male Staminate Flower

Flower Size(s) Length

1.5-2mm

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar

Pannicle

Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar,

Pannicle

Pendulous

Arrangement Size(s)

700-800mm, 800-900mm, 900mm-1m, 1-1.25m

700-800mm,

800-900mm,

900mm-1m,

1-1.25m

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects

Bees,

Insects

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Same Flower Head

Petal Number

Stamen Number

60-71

Gender: Female

Colour(s)

Cream-white, Cream-yellow

Cream-white,

Cream-yellow

Flower Shape(s)

Female or Pistillate Flower

Flower Size(s) Length

< 1mm

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar

Pannicle

Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar,

Pannicle

Pendulous

Arrangement Size(s)

700-800mm, 800-900mm, 900mm-1m, 1.25-1.5m

700-800mm,

800-900mm,

900mm-1m,

1.25-1.5m

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects

Bees,

Insects

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Same Flower Head

Petal Number

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Drupe

Shape(s)

Globose

Ovoid

Globose,

Ovoid

Outer Colour(s)

Orange, Red

Orange,

Red

Outer Texture

Glabrous

Length

40-50mm

Aroma

None

Seed Properties

Type

Nut

Colour

Brown-Dark

Shape(s)

Globose

Orbicular

Globose,

Orbicular

Texture(s)

Ribbed

Waxy

Ribbed,

Waxy

Fibrous

Size

25-30mm

Seed Dispersal

Animals, Birds, Gravity

Animals,

Birds,

Gravity

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root

Texture

Rough / Scabrous

Pliable , Stiff

Pliable,

Stiff

Colour(s)

Grey-brown

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

Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

None

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Moderate

Bird Attraction

Nectar, Insect, Seed

Nectar,

Insect,

Seed

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed

Fire Retarding

None

Drought Tolerance

Good

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Smog Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Indigenous Use(s)

None

Landscape Use

Very Good

Street Use

Moderate

Commercial Use(s)

None

Maintenance(s)

Dead Fronding

Pests/Diseases

Mealy Bug, Scale

Mealy Bug,

Scale

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

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m

Annual Precipitation Range

1,400mm, 1,5oomm, 1,600mm

1,400mm,

1,5oomm,

1,600mm

Propagation

Mechanically Stratified Treated Seed

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.

Propagation Notes

Mechanically Stratified Treated Seed

Flowering

Dec, Jan, Feb

Seed Collecting

Oct, Nov, Dec

Sowing

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Material Preparation

The seed takes 6 - 9 mths to ripen. Pick the fruit when the seeds is very 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.

Viability:- 6 - 12 months

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

Treatment

Scarify each seed with a nick to the outer coat with a sharp knife. This will accelerate germination. Sow fresh seed into large Forestry tubes and cover with mix and fine gravel, water in well. Place on 21°C heated bed with misters. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 2 - 3 months > 14 month 6 – 8 months before first frond opens

Pricking out:- N. A.

140mm Pot Mix:- Premium Potting Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coasre washed sand

Notes

Initial growth of the seed is to send out a deep root before a frond emerges so planting into tubes, direct is recommended.