Laccospadix australasicus H.Wedl. & Drude

Common name(s): Atherton Palm, Queensland Kentia

Family: Arecaceae Subfamily: Arecoideae Synonym(s): Laccospadix australasica, Calyptrocalyx australasicus H.Wendl. & Drude, Hook.f., Ptychosperma laccospadix George Bentham\Benth., Calyptrocalyx laccospadix F.M.Bailey

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 18th October, 2018 at Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Stem (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Stem (Upper)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Juvenile Leaf

Taken by Unkown

Fruit

Taken by Unkown

Expand all

Palm / Palm Ally Properties

Origin(s)

Australia

QLD: CO

Plant Type

Clumping, Palm, Palm Feather-leaved, Solitary

Clumping,

Palm,

Palm Feather-leaved,

Solitary

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Temperate Warm, Tropical-Sub, Tropical

Temperate Warm,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical

Aspect Range(s)

Shade - Dappled, Shade - Medium, Shade - Heavy

Shade - Dappled,

Shade - Medium,

Shade - Heavy

Habitat Range(s)

Forest - Montane, Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rainforest - Tropical

Forest - Montane,

Rainforest - Sub-tropical,

Rainforest - Tropical

Habitat Zone(s)

Foothills, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Hill Sides, Hills, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Slopes, Understory, Well drained, Wind Protected

Foothills,

Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,

Hill Sides,

Hills,

Moist areas,

Moist Slopes,

Slopes,

Understory,

Well drained,

Wind Protected

Mature Height

3-4m, 4-5m, 5-6m, 6-7m

3-4m,

4-5m,

5-6m,

6-7m

Mature Width

2-3m

Growth Rate

Slow

Plant Shape

Standard Crown - Open

Maturity

4-6 yrs.

Frond Properties

Frond Position

Erect, Arching

Erect,

Arching

New Frond Colour(s)

Red-brown

Frond Colour(s) (front)

Green Dark

Frond Colour(s) (back)

Green Mid

Frond Texture (front)

Glabrous

Leathery

Glabrous,

Leathery

Frond Texture (back)

Leathery

Frond Length

1.75-2m

Frond Width

400-500mm, 500-600mm, 600-700mm

400-500mm,

500-600mm,

600-700mm

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Shapes

Pinnate / Parapinnate

Recurved

Pinnate / Parapinnate,

Recurved

Frond Arrangement

Alternate

Frond Attachment

Partial Sheath

Rachis Features

Scurfy

Pinna Shape(s) (Frondlet)

Lanceolate

Linear

Lanceolate,

Linear

Pinna Length (Frondlet)

300-350mm, 350-400mm

300-350mm,

350-400mm

Pinna Width (Frondlet)

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

20-25mm,

25-30mm,

30-40mm

Pinnae Arrangement

Even Pinnae

Alternate & Distichous

Pinnae Pairs / Frond

20, 21, 22, 23, 24

20,

21,

22,

23,

Pinnule Apice(s) (Leaflet)

Acuminate Narrow

Emarginate

Acuminate Narrow,

Emarginate

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Pinnule Cross Section(s) (Leaflet)

Pleated / Folded

Pinnule Venation (Leaflet)

Parallel

Petiole Length

300-400mm, 400-500mm, 500-600mm, 600-700mm, 700-800mm, 800-900mm, 900mm-1m

300-400mm,

400-500mm,

500-600mm,

600-700mm,

700-800mm,

800-900mm,

900mm-1m

Petiole Texture

Scaly

Trunk / Stem Properties

Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)

Green, Green Dark

Green,

Green Dark

Colour(s) (Base)

Black, Green Dark, Green-grey

Black,

Green Dark,

Green-grey

Texture (Upper)

Hairs-long

Hairs-dense

Texture (Base)

Glabrous

Smooth

Glabrous,

Smooth

Cross Section

Terete

Diameter

50-60mm, 60-70mm, 70-80mm, 80-90mm, 90-100mm

50-60mm,

60-70mm,

70-80mm,

80-90mm,

90-100mm

Length

3.5-4m, 4-4.5m, 4.5-5m, 5-5.5m, 5.5-6m, 6-6.5m, 6.5-7m

3.5-4m,

4-4.5m,

4.5-5m,

5-5.5m,

5.5-6m,

6-6.5m,

6.5-7m

Features

Distinct Growth Rings, Smooth Trunk

Trunk-multi , Trunk-single , Erect

Trunk-multi,

Trunk-single,

Erect

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Early

Flowering Time (end)

Spring Late

Colour(s)

Yellow, Yellow Light

Yellow,

Yellow Light

Flower Shape(s)

Ellipsoid

Flower Size(s) Length

2.5-5mm

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Axillary, Interfoliar Long

Spike

Axillary, Interfoliar Long,

Spike

Arrangement Size(s)

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

900mm-1m,

1-1.25m,

1.25-1.5m

Arrangement Shape

Pendulous , Spike

Pendulous,

Spike

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Same Flower Head

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Shape(s)

Ovoid

Outer Colour(s)

Glossy, Red

Glossy,

Red

Outer Texture

Smooth

Waxy

Smooth,

Waxy

Length

5-10mm

Aroma

None

Season of Fruiting

Summer Mid, Summer Late

Summer Mid,

Summer Late

Seed Properties

Type

Nutlet

Texture(s)

Smooth

Seed Appendage

Flesh

Seed Dispersal

Gravity

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

Surface Adventitious Root

Texture

Cord-like

Invasiveness

Low

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral

Condition(s)

Damp

Moist

Damp,

Moist

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

None

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy, WR3 - never let soil dry out

WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy,

WR3 - never let soil dry out

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Poor

Bird Attraction

Insect, Seed

Insect,

Seed

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

None

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed

Fire Retarding

Poor

Drought Tolerance

Poor

Frost Tolerance

None

Smog Tolerance

Poor

Snow Tolerance

None

Landscape Use

Moderate

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Fronding

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Container, Garden-Australian Native, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Interesting Buds or Fruit, Pond Edge, Pool Side, Shade Tolerant, Shady Moist, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Garden-Container,

Garden-Australian Native,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Foliage,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Rainforest,

Garden-Tropical,

Interesting Buds or Fruit,

Pond Edge,

Pool Side,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Moist,

Specimen,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's,

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Dormancy

Summer

Humidity Requirements

Medium, High, Very High

Medium,

High,

Very High

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Altitude Range - Habitat

800-900m, 900-1,000m, 1,000-1,250m, 1,250-1,500m

800-900m,

900-1,000m,

1,000-1,250m,

1,250-1,500m

Annual Precipitation Range

1,600mm, 1,700mm, 1,800mm, 1,900mm

1,600mm,

1,700mm,

1,800mm,

1,900mm

Fertilising Requirements

FR6, FR8, FR11

FR6,

FR8,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds

Propagation

Fresh Seed

General Notes

An attractive, interesting palm with red to bronze new folaige and can be either a solitary palm or have a clumping form. The clumping form growing shorter and with thinner trunks than the solitary form. Ideal for shaded areas, underplanting of larger trees or palms.

Propagation Notes

Fresh Seed

Flowering

Spring

Seed Collecting

Autumn

Sowing

Spring

Material Preparation

Pick the fruit when it 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. It is best to sow the seed as soon as possible for best results.

Viability:- 6 - 12 months

Seeds/gram:-

Note:- Collecting seed from the wild is illegal.

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

Treatment

Sow fresh seed into P2 tubes 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:- N. A.

140mm Pot Mix:- Premium Potting Mix

Notes

Fertilise every 2 months with liquid fertiliser.