Rhapis humilis

[chris.oz]

One of my clumps of R. humilis has just flowered,  and I have discovered its male.

According to a number of  authors [ Jones:  Palms throughout the world,  Riffle and Craft :  Encyclopedia of cultivated Palms ]  female plants of this species do not exist.

In the recent revision of Rhapis in Palms June 2003, it is stated that female plants do exist in China at Mt. Omei and  Lungcho.  

Recently, seed was offered for sale through RPS.

I believe this palm has a very high degree of horticultural value,  it tolerates much more sun in  temperate latitudes  than R. excelsa,  it grows taller,  so can be used as a very effective screen,  and most of all it grows at least 2 times faster than R. excelsa.

I wonder,  does anyone else on the board have this palm,  can they share exeriences, and do they know whether their palms are male or female ?

[ianedwards]

Chris, Rhapis humilis cultivated outside China have until recently all been male, propagated by division. In 1992 I bought seedlings grown in Alstonville NSW by the now defunct nursery of China Trading Company, from seeds imported from China. Last year one clump flowered, to my disappointment male. If and when a clump flowers female I will let the world know, as I don't think there has ever been a photo - only a drawing in the article you mentioned. But there must be more about, the nursery had quite a few on sale.

Ian Edwards, Sydney.

[chris.oz]

Ian,

OK,  if yours was grown from seed and is R. humilis,  then it proves Laura Hastings correct.

I will post a photo of one of my R humilis clumps,  a confirmed male:  I have a total of 2 square metres in 4 clumps.

Any time you need pollen,  dont hesitate to get in touch !

My palms may have originated from the same source !   I was told they came originally from the Melbourne Zoo.

[chris.oz]

This is what I believe to be a Rhapis humilis male inflorescence.   One of my clumps has 2 of these, where the stems are receiving sun for 4 hours a day.   The tallest stems are 3 metres [ 10 ft] tall and showing no sign of growth tapering off

[Hillizard]

My R. humilis, transplanted from my previous house, was doing okay while in the shade of a clump of bamboo. Once that was removed, it got far too much sun and the final insult was the "heat dome" we had in California a few weeks ago. I thought it might recover... and now I see that it has/will! Hoping that a lateral branch on a nearby Peltophorum will give it the shade it needs.