Hyophorbe lagenicaulis

Common Name

Bottle Palm

Description

Stems: Solitary, erect stems, to 7 m tall, up to 60 cm in diameter, ringed with close leaf scars and greatly swollen at the base. Leaves: Pinnate, reduplicate, stongly arched, to 3 m long, with leaflets evenly spaced along the rachis and held in a V-shape. Upper and lower leaf surfaces are green to gray-green; the midrib and secondary ribs are prominent and yellowish. Flowers and fruits: Inflorescences are erect in bud, to 1 m long, with several horn-shaped buds circling the base of the waxy green crown shaft, densely branched with male and female flowers on the same inflorescence. The ovoid fruits (2.5 cm long) are brownish black when ripe.

Diagnostic Features

Field: Solitary, erect stems, ringed with close leaf scars and greatly swollen at the base; 4-8 leaves with pinnate leaflets held in a V-shape

Lab: Ramenta on the abaxial surface is found along both midrib and secondary ribs.

Distribution

Native to Mascarene Islands

Additional Comments

Cultivated in Hawaii

Scientific Name

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (L.H.Bailey) H.E.Moore

Family

Arecaceae/Palmae

Synonyms

Mascarena lagenicaulis L.H.Bailey

Mascarena revaughanii L.H.Bailey

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis stem with closer view of leaf scars

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis leaf

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis leaflets, held in a V-shape

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis leaflets with ramenta on midribs and sceondary ribs 

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis inflorescence branches

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis closer view of fruit. Photograph courtesy of Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Guide to Palms http://palmguide.org/index.php 

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis habit

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis stem with horn-shaped inflorescence buds

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis leaf tip, underside

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis leaflets, with midrib and secondary ribs

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis stem with horn-shaped inflorescence buds and immature fruit

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis stem, crownshaft and immature fruit

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis habit

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis stem with closer view of leaf scars

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis stem with horn-shaped inflorescence buds

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis leaf

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis leaf tip, underside

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis leaflets, held in a V-shape

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis leaflets, with midrib and secondary ribs

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis leaflets with ramenta on midribs and sceondary ribs 

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis stem with horn-shaped inflorescence buds and immature fruit

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis inflorescence branches

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis stem, crownshaft and immature fruit

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis closer view of fruit. Photograph courtesy of Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Guide to Palms http://palmguide.org/index.php 
February 15, 2011