| Binomial |
Ptychosperma macarthurii (H. Wendl. ex H.J. Veitch) H. Wendl. ex Hook f. |
| Family |
Arecaceae |
| Habit |
Multi-stemmed palm, bamboo like appearance, medium to tall fast growing tree |
| Bark |
Younger parts are green and greyish brown when mature, prominent leaf scars encircling the trunk |
| Flowers |
Yellowish green to light green in multi branched inflorescence, cream coloured |
| Fruits |
Bright red when ripe, thin layer of flesh surrounds the seed, ovoid, grooved, pointed at both ends |
| Flowering period |
Throughout the year |
| Pollinators |
Bees |
| Native to Australia and New Guinea |
The genus epithet 'Ptychosperma' comes from the Greek 'ptychos', 'wrinkled' or 'folded', and 'sperma', 'seed', in reference to its grooved seeds. The species epithet is honoured after Sir W. MacArthur of New South Wales, who was one of the most active and influential horticulturists in Australia in the 19th century. The tree is perfect for landscaping tropical gardens for cooler climates. The plant is widely grown as an ornamental. |
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