Hyophorbe amaricaulis

[hery]

Hi,

I know everyone may wacht the same photos in the same angles on the web, nevertheless, these are some shots -sorry for the quality- I have done during a trip in Mauritius Island -at Curepipe-, of the lastest mature Hyophorbe amaricaulis. I said latest mature, for I have the quasi-certitude that seedlings of it exist in Mautitius and reunion Islands maybe elsewhere...

Note that the fence around is to prevent seeds from pickers or from some criminal intents. Not very in harmony but it is the price to pay to be sure that at least one future generation may behold this very latest palm.

Hery

[carver]

Hery,

You post some of the coolest things, you definitely live in an amazing place. Barbed wire helps keep the people out, I hope rats aren't a threat to the seeds. When was this palm discovered and is this private or public land? One again very cool, and nice to see a species being preserved for future generations. Brian

[hery]

Hery,

You post some of the coolest things, you definitely live in an amazing place. Barbed wire helps keep the people out, I hope rats aren't a threat to the seeds. When was this palm discovered and is this private or public land? One again very cool, and nice to see a species being preserved for future generations. Brian

Hi Carver,

It is at the Curepipe Botanic Gardens -see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curepipe_Botanic_Gardens - it is of pubic entry and with no fare, still was the case a few years ago. Has this Hyophorbe been planted or was it there before 1870 ? The question deserve to be ask to Mauritius authorities ! Some answers may come out from this post. I hope at least it works towards that goal. I want to know too ! The fruits maturation are well followed by Mauritius naturalists seen the scaffolding to allow them to pick the fruits. I guess they also use rat poison at the foot of the palm.

Regards

Hery

Edited December 15, 2010 by hery

[carver]

Thanks for the info., rarest palm in the world, wow! Is that fence electrified too?

[richnorm]

Yet another awesome thread Hery. Thank you!

Richard

[hery]

Thanks for the info., rarest palm in the world, wow! Is that fence electrified too?

No I didn't see any nearby electric equipment. So I will be on the lookout while you climb over the fence and then throw me the fruits. Do you agree ?

Hery

[Tyrone]

Awesome pics Hery. I hope they can germinate this one in future.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Alicehunter2000]

What was the reason this can't be backcrossed with another similar species and then continued backcrossing to get something that is close to the genetic makeup of the original. Guess my genetic knowlege is minimal and such things have to be explained to me in detail.

And hery...thanks for the pics. Would love to see more from your island and travels.

[edric]

Hery, Thank you so much for the close attention you give to this tree, and others nearly in that shape as well, it does not go without warrant, all of us here on palmtalk really appreciate all the hard work that is required, Ed

[hery]

What was the reason this can't be backcrossed with another similar species and then continued backcrossing to get something that is close to the genetic makeup of the original. Guess my genetic knowlege is minimal and such things have to be explained to me in detail.

And hery...thanks for the pics. Would love to see more from your island and travels.

I would like to show here seedlings pictures of H. amaricaulis. Maybe soon...

Hery

[Alicehunter2000]

That would be huge news

[palmislandRandy]

What was the reason this can't be backcrossed with another similar species and then continued backcrossing to get something that is close to the genetic makeup of the original. Guess my genetic knowlege is minimal and such things have to be explained to me in detail.

And hery...thanks for the pics. Would love to see more from your island and travels.

I would like to show here seedlings pictures of H. amaricaulis. Maybe soon...

Hery

Hery, Thanks for the info & photos on this rareity. Should I save a space in my yard for the seedling I need to complete my Hyophorbe collection?

Randy

[carver]

Thanks for the info., rarest palm in the world, wow! Is that fence electrified too?

No I didn't see any nearby electric equipment. So I will be on the lookout while you climb over the fence and then throw me the fruits. Do you agree ?

Hery

Is that how you plan on getting seedling pics?

[hery]

,Is that how you plan on getting seedling pics?

[richnorm]

Here's a picture of a seedling, unfortunately it dates from the 1870's!

[Mike in Nelson]

Ok, so what's the situation with this palm? Can anyone have a go at germinating a few seeds? Or are there heavy restrictions on access to seeds etc? Is anyone still trying to germinate or given up all hope?

[richnorm]

Ok, so what's the situation with this palm? Can anyone have a go at germinating a few seeds? Or are there heavy restrictions on access to seeds etc? Is anyone still trying to germinate or given up all hope?

According to "Palms" some seeds have recently been germinated in-vitro and are making progress.

[olivier971]

Always the same question !!

"Could these be 2 young H. Amaricaulis ?"

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/97830/

Edited December 16, 2010 by olivier971

[John in Andalucia]

As a few people know, I successfully germinated 3 Lavoixia macrocarpa, so I wouldn't rule out being able to germinate a few Hyophorbe amaricaulis. If they have an embryo, I'm game!

[JASON M]

Always the same question !!

"Could these be 2 young H. Amaricaulis ?"

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/97830/

I think those might be H. Indica...

[edric]

Always the same question !!

"Could these be 2 young H. Amaricaulis ?"

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/97830/

I think those might be H. Indica...

The 2 meter, 3.5 year old palm in the photo is an H. indica, Ed

[Tyrone]

Always the same question !!

"Could these be 2 young H. Amaricaulis ?"

http://davesgarden.c...howimage/97830/

Looks like H vaughanii to me.

Best regards

Tyrone

[hery]

What was the reason this can't be backcrossed with another similar species and then continued backcrossing to get something that is close to the genetic makeup of the original. Guess my genetic knowlege is minimal and such things have to be explained to me in detail.

And hery...thanks for the pics. Would love to see more from your island and travels.

I would like to show here seedlings pictures of H. amaricaulis. Maybe soon...

Hery

Hery, Thanks for the info & photos on this rareity. Should I save a space in my yard for the seedling I need to complete my Hyophorbe collection?

Randy

That's something for me to make pictures of those famous seedlings ! I could not guarantee H. amaricaulis seeds or seedlings. But you might as well leave a space for another very rare palm !

Best regards

Hery

[Mandrew968]

Has anyone read about the article in "palms" about the small group of Hyophorbe amaricaulis that was discovered in Cuba? Apparently the palms were collected and taken to Cuba a LONG time ago and then mislabeled. A palm researcher came to cuba and recognized the palms as Hyophorbe amaricaulis and that was pretty much the end of the article... I sure would like to know any updates on this! Thanks

[quaman58]

Has anyone read about the article in "palms" about the small group of Hyophorbe amaricaulis that was discovered in Cuba? Apparently the palms were collected and taken to Cuba a LONG time ago and then mislabeled. A palm researcher came to cuba and recognized the palms as Hyophorbe amaricaulis and that was pretty much the end of the article... I sure would like to know any updates on this! Thanks

This piqued my interest, so I googled the original article, & also what appears to be a follow-up, written in 2000. I've pasted it here:

Title Identity of the Hyophorbe palms at the Botanical Garden of Cienfuegos, Cuba

Authors Lewis, C. E.; Martínez Barboza, N.

Journal Palms 2000 Vol. 44 No. 2 pp. 93-97

Record Number 20001616302

"An unusual population of cultivated Hyophorbe palms was observed in a public garden in Cuba. The population appeared to be a stand of Hyophorbe amaricaulis, which is considered to be the most endangered of palm species. With just a single known H. amaricaulis plant in existence today (at Curepipe, Mauritius), any record of additional living individuals would be an important discovery. The plants in Cuba were investigated in order to determine their identity. After analysing key morphological features and DNA sequences from the phosphoribulokinase (PRK) gene, it was concluded that the unidentified Hyophorbe palms at Cienfuegos are individuals of H. lagenicaulis rather than H. amaricaulis. Although the existence of a viable H. amaricaulis population in Cuba was not confirmed, the analysis is seen as a step toward unravelling the evolutionary history of the genus. The study also showed that DNA sequences can complement morphological data in the identification of living palms".

[Mandrew968]

Has anyone read about the article in "palms" about the small group of Hyophorbe amaricaulis that was discovered in Cuba? Apparently the palms were collected and taken to Cuba a LONG time ago and then mislabeled. A palm researcher came to cuba and recognized the palms as Hyophorbe amaricaulis and that was pretty much the end of the article... I sure would like to know any updates on this! Thanks

This piqued my interest, so I googled the original article, & also what appears to be a follow-up, written in 2000. I've pasted it here:

Title Identity of the Hyophorbe palms at the Botanical Garden of Cienfuegos, Cuba

Authors Lewis, C. E.; Martínez Barboza, N.

Journal Palms 2000 Vol. 44 No. 2 pp. 93-97

Record Number 20001616302

"An unusual population of cultivated Hyophorbe palms was observed in a public garden in Cuba. The population appeared to be a stand of Hyophorbe amaricaulis, which is considered to be the most endangered of palm species. With just a single known H. amaricaulis plant in existence today (at Curepipe, Mauritius), any record of additional living individuals would be an important discovery. The plants in Cuba were investigated in order to determine their identity. After analysing key morphological features and DNA sequences from the phosphoribulokinase (PRK) gene, it was concluded that the unidentified Hyophorbe palms at Cienfuegos are individuals of H. lagenicaulis rather than H. amaricaulis. Although the existence of a viable H. amaricaulis population in Cuba was not confirmed, the analysis is seen as a step toward unravelling the evolutionary history of the genus. The study also showed that DNA sequences can complement morphological data in the identification of living palms".

"Although the existence of a viable H. amaricaulis population in Cuba was not confirmed" does this mean that it was confirmed the palms in question are NOT H. amaricaulis? Then this means they were correctly labeled to begin with?

Edited April 21, 2011 by Mandrew968

[quaman58]

It looks like they're going with H. lagenicaulis for now.

[Trópico]

Is it that difficult to tell apart a bottle from the loneliest palm?

[palmsOrl]

My thoughts exactly Tropico.

[Karan]

Hi All,

Would that be a Hyophorbe Amaricaulis?

If yes, we have great hope of reproduction as I found this one somewhere else on the island of Mauritius.

Thanks,

K.D

[palmsOrl]

Interesting. What evidence is there that this palm is indeed Hyophorbe americaulis? It certainly looks similar.

[Karan]

Hi,

I don't know much about Palms but recently came across an article which mentioned that there was only one living specimen of the hyophorbe amaricaulis which is in the curepipe botanical garden and that reproduction so far has been unsuccessful. The fact that it looked similar to the one I spotted somewhere else on the island made me post a photo so that we can confirm if it is the same.

[doranakandawatta]

Hery...thanks for the pics. Would love to see more from your island and travels.

Yes , wee would, Hery, are you still here? Hery?

Karan,
I am not sure the foliage looks like H. amaricaulis or even Hyophorbe…. but what is it?

[Mike in Nelson]

Yes it looks like a completely different palm. It sure is tall whatever it is.

[doranakandawatta]

Could that be a very tall and very old Dictyosperma album ?

Since I saw the very old and very tall Latania verschaffeltii in Peradeniya, I believe we can't imagine how tall a species can become with time:

Could the palm experts on Palmtalk give their opinion? Thanks

[palmsOrl]

Yeah, I could see that being Dictyosperma album.

[olivier971]

YEs it's D album

The same as those in Mauritius for example

[Mandrew968]

Any word on the progress of seedling recruitment???

[Aceraceae]

Does this thing still fruit unsuccessfully? None of the ideas have worked to save it including a hybrid with H. indica? What about the in-vitro germination? 

[Mandrew968]

We would have heard something but it is crazy weird in so many ways... no reason i can think of why this palm doesn't set viable seed. Maybe it itself is a hybrid and the palm doesn't set seed due to that reason? But it should still be viable... 

Here we have a chance to save this palm-it can be done-but crickets...