What Chamaedorea

[Surf Guy]

This Chamaedorea is in palm canyon at Balboa Park. On the map it is listed as C. costaricana. I think it may be something else. The trunks are like C. costaricana but the fronds resemble C. oblongata (IMO). Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

[Palms1984]

This Chamaedorea is in palm canyon at Balboa Park. On the map it is listed as C. costaricana. I think it may be something else. The trunks are like C. costaricana but the fronds resemble C. oblongata (IMO). Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

I've seen this palm in person...it's definitely Chamaedorea oblongata.

[Patrick]

C. microspadix

I have a hard time with palms that look very very similar as these two do. I'll go with oblongata too as the leaves are a bit glossy.

[Walter John]

Oblongata yes.

[daxin]

Could it be C. falcifera? This species suddenly becomes available at interior plant nurseries within the last year. It is usually planted in multiples in a 10" or 12" container, and it is often right next to C. costaricana.

[gyuseppe]

seems to Chamaedorea microspadix, but it could also be Chamaedorea oblongata.

[Todos Santos]

I would guess C.microspadix, although it may be a hybrid. I say microspadix because it appears to be clumping and have thinner trunks than oblongata. Also, oblongata usually has thicker and more glossy leaves and microspadix thinner and more dull leaves. Either way it is an attractive palm.

[Surf Guy]

Thanks for your input guys. I thought it may be C. oblongata but the trunks are really thin. Probably 1/4" to 1/2" only.

[XYZ]

Greetings:

You cannot make this up. Much of this thread is a fine example as to why so many knowledgeable plant people steer clear of internet gardening fora and its plethora of armchair parataxonomists, and why novice gardeners should approach it as a "resource" with great caution.

Chamaedorea oblongata is a solitary palm.

Chamaedorea falcifera is also a solitary palm.

The plant depicted is not a solitary palm.

If, indeed, C. falcifera is ultimately determined to be a valid taxon than it is an extremely rare palmlet restricted to true lowland rainforest in eastern Izabal, Guatemala and perhaps the southern Toledo District of Belize. I have collected wild material from the toptype on the upper Río Frio on the lower slopes of Cerro San Gil alongside perfectly good C. pinnatifrons and - in lieu of molecular work - am inclined to argue that is a "good" microendemic species. Knowing more than just a bit about the plant's status in the wild and its cultivation quirks, I can't believe that the genuine article is really in broad cultivation outside of Guatemala.

Southern California is - hands down - the Axis Mundii for ugly and/or bastard chamaedoreas. SoFlo presumably a distant second.

"Sometimes a cigar is a just a cigar"...conserve bandwith, buy good books written by smart people, have a beer and enjoy your plants.

Ciao/J

[LJG]

Chamaedorea oblongata is a solitary palm.

Did it ever occur to you this plant might be many plants? Lots of nurserymen like to make these plants look more appealing by putting a bunch into a pot.

Ciao

[Kumar]

Mike, your mystery palm seem similar to one I have - also a bit of a mystery

C. oblongata is the only opinion I received on this about four months ago. It is notoriously slow, not even thr outline of a spear in all this time. The light green colour has persisted though.

Do you think they are the same ?

[Erik]

buy good books written by smart people, have a beer and enjoy your plants.

Ciao/J

Jaguar,

can you recommend a good book on Chamaedorea? If so, I'll buy you a Gallo cerveza next time I'm in Guatemala.

[daxin]

Here is a photo of an alleged Chamaedorea falcifera at my local interior plant wholesaler:

Here is their weblink with a brief description:

Cham. falcifera

I did double-check on the solitary/clumping habits of Chamaedorea falcifera, but thought it is multi-planted just like most Cham. elegans for indoor applications.

In any case, I will probably go buy one. The reason for my hold-up is that I find it very hard to believe that the wholesalers are growing a rare palm that gets little mentioning even on this forum.

Edited January 27, 2011 by daxin

[DoomsDave]

SG:

The hard part is telling whether your plant is clumping, or a clump of singles.

If you could provide a close-up of the base, that would help a lot.

It looks a lot like C. microspadix to me, because the leaves aren't as dark and glossy as the oblongatas I've seen.

On the other hand, they don't appear to have that bluish cast that microspadix has, either.

Give us a picture of the base . . .

dave

[MichaelS]

I would say Chamaedorea microspadix.

I thought Chamaedorea oblongata stems were a bit thicker then that.

Michael