Orania ravaka

[quaman58]

Hey all,

I first saw this palm in the background of picture taken by a member while in Madagascar. (Jeff Searl, I think).. Awesome looking thing. Anyway, I got a couple from Floribunda last year. They are remote germinators, they had the look of a carrot top attached to a golfball sized seed with an umbilical cord. Anyway, after several months the "umbilicals" shriveled and dropped off, and they have begin pushing their first leaves. So far, so good. Does anyone have any insight as to speed of growth, and what temperature zone they will tolerate?

Bret

[Matt in SD]

Hi Bret,

I've had a couple of these for a couple of years. They're doing fine in my greenhouse with the lowest temp down to about 37F. Clark (surferjr) has a bunch outside and they're still alive, not looking prime, but alive and growing and they're small still so who knows. Mine are really starting to do well now, the growth has sped up quite a bit. I think they're on about the 5th leaf now and well rooted in 2g pots.

BUT...I was informed from someone who has grown the three Madagascar Orania's (longisquama, ravaka, and trispatha) that these are actually Orania trispatha. He said that O ravaka has brownish leaflet undersides, while trispatha is white/silver under the leaves. Also the terminal leaflet on young O ravaka is very wide. Looking in POM, the white/silver leaflet coloration of trispatha is confirmed, but it doesn't really say what color the leaflet undersides is for ravaka. Also says the ramenta coloration is different (silver for trispatha, red/brown for ravaka). My palms have no ramenta, even on a leaf that just opened a couple days ago, but the color difference is consistent with what my non-posting friend said. And the drawing of the terminal leaflets in POM shows ravaka being quite a bit fatter than trispatha. But as with anything from madagascar, I think these will remain a mystery for a while. Anyways, if anything, O trispatha is a better looking palm. It's larger, and also there is/was a population closer to the South of island, maybe explaining why they are surviving here.

I'm really excited about these. I've seen Jeff Marcus O longisquama and it's a knockout...trispatha or ravaka should be even better looking.

Matt

[Jeff Searle]

Bret,

Is there any chance of you posting a picture of your plant? I should be able to tell you what you have. I actually have several small plants of all three species. Unfortunately, I think I lost my camera recently.... , I still have not found it. Or, I would take some of my own pictures.

These plants are slow growing, especially at an early age. Personally for me, I think O. ravaka is the prettiest of the three species. I also think their fairly tropical in their requirements.

Jeff

[quaman58]

Matt, Jeff,

Thanks for the replies. I'll get a picture of it up when I get home tonight; getting a positive id would be great. Regarding their slow beginning, I've got one that still hasn't decided to push a leaf yet, and I received it last October. It's still green though. Is it time to panick yet?

Bret

[Mark Heath]

Bret, they're very slow growing in the early stages. I've had one for about four years now and the fronds are about 4ft tall. It's fairly cold-hardy due to the fact that it has wheathered it here in Orlando for that long w/ no protection. They have deep root systems so plant it in the groung as soon as you get your fronds going.

[quaman58]

I promised a couple pics, hopeful for a definite ID. Sorry for the rather rough images.

Can anyone tell if this is indeed O. ravaka?

Thanks in advance!

Bret

[cfkingfish]

That looks like O. trispatha. O. ravaka has a rather large entire terminal leaflet at this stage.

[surferjr]

That looks like O. trispatha. O. ravaka has a rather large entire terminal leaflet at this stage.

I think this is Orania trispatha too Seems that the seeds are being sold as Ravaka.

But a great palm to have!!

Edited August 18, 2008 by surferjr

[quaman58]

Thanks again all for the info. Since both O. ravaka and trispatha leaves appear to be distichous in nature, is there much significant difference in the appearance of the adult palm? There's just not much information on these guys around...

Bret

[Eric in Orlando]

We have one planted out, got the seed from RPS. They are slow.

Also have a Orania palindan planted out.

Orania ravaka

Orania palindan

[LJG]

Eric, how old is the Orania palindan? Or at least when was it planted out? I guess it can handle below 32 degrees for a short spell.

[Eric in Orlando]

It was planted in July 2004 from a 1 gal. It is growing under protective tree canopy so really hasn't seen below mid 30'sF. It was slow growing but has speeded up this summer.

[Jeff in St Pete]

BUT...I was informed from someone who has grown the three Madagascar Orania's (longisquama, ravaka, and trispatha) that these are actually Orania trispatha. He said that O ravaka has brownish leaflet undersides, while trispatha is white/silver under the leaves. Also the terminal leaflet on young O ravaka is very wide. Looking in POM, the white/silver leaflet coloration of trispatha is confirmed, but it doesn't really say what color the leaflet undersides is for ravaka. Also says the ramenta coloration is different (silver for trispatha, red/brown for ravaka). My palms have no ramenta, even on a leaf that just opened a couple days ago, but the color difference is consistent with what my non-posting friend said. And the drawing of the terminal leaflets in POM shows ravaka being quite a bit fatter than trispatha. But as with anything from madagascar, I think these will remain a mystery for a while. Anyways, if anything, O trispatha is a better looking palm. It's larger, and also there is/was a population closer to the South of island, maybe explaining why they are surviving here.

I'm really excited about these. I've seen Jeff Marcus O longisquama and it's a knockout...trispatha or ravaka should be even better looking.

Matt

I found this older thread while researching this palm. I'm pretty sure I bought this as Orania ravaka, but based on the photos posted in this thread and the info that Matt posted, could this be Orania trispatha? Mine has white/silver under the leaflets and the terminal leaflet is not very wide either. I'm just curious what I have here, I'm happy to have either species.

[JD in the OC]

O. palindan is from the Phillippines and is supposedly the most cold hardy in the genus. I would think the Orania in PNG are the most cold sensitive..

[BS Man about Palms]

Here is a O. Ravaka, in the tall 15 gal pot in the left foreground, starting to open a leaf. You can see the large terminal leaflet on the older leaf on the left. (sunburned)

[Moose]

Nice palms and usually fetch a handsome price. I have not acquired any with the exception of Orania palidan.

Maybe someday . Will work for palms!

Moose

[BS Man about Palms]

Better shots of a O. ravaka.

Burned leaves, but you can see the large terminal leaflet a bit.

[BS Man about Palms]

You can see the reddish brown base/petioles here too.