Acanthophoenix crinita - International Palm Society

PALMS Ludwig: Acanthophoenix Vol. 50(2) 2006
12. Rachilla of
Acanthophoenix
rousselii: with
colorful
staminate
flowers and
sub-globose
pistillate flowers
(× 5). (Photo by
Marc Gérard
and Nicole
Ludwig)
straight, black spines up to 10–12 cm long
inserted on a swollen base. On older palms, the
sheaths become unarmed and as smooth as
velvet (Fig. 5). Leaf sheaths of Acanthophoenix
rousselii are dark brown, densely covered with
short soft hair (Fig. 6). The crownshaft of
Acanthophoenix crinita often looks swollen (Fig.
7), with the outer sheaths pushed out by young
inflorescences; sheaths are brown or light
brown and covered with stiff hairs reminiscent
of “tangue” (tenrec) fur (Tanrec ecaudatus) (Fig.
8).
The leaves are pinnate with 40–60 pairs of
leaflets, which are acute, pendulous and
regularly arranged on both sides of the rachis.
The petiole is short with a flat adaxial side and
a convex abaxial side. It becomes unarmed on
adult or sub-adult palms, though in
Acanthophoenix crinita there may be some
persistent lateral bristles. In this species, the
petioles and rachis are covered with a fine
waxy indument that can be rubbed away
easily. The petioles and rachis of A. rubra and
A. rousselii are glabrous. In the three species the
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