Palm heel

[Don Little]

At the risk of sounding dumb, I've often heard the epxression heel in refference to the base of the palm.  Since the last 4 years I have been collecting and growing my plants without the benefit of this forum and never heard the expression untill joining the forum in October I am not exactly sure what it is referring to.  Can someone please clear this seemingly easy question for me.  Thanks for the help

Don

[PALM MOD]

Don,

Read through this thread, it should help some.

http://palmtalk.org/cgi-bin....xophone

[Don Little]

Thanks Dean, that helps clear things up, now I feel I know a little more.  I have even googled "palm heel" and only came up was some martial arts move but nothing related to palms.  One more question, in Geoff's definition he stated that there are many species that have one but especially the slower growing ones partially because they spend time forming one.  My question is, does the heel always break the surface and become visible and if not what species regularly develope one?  I've seen them in referrence to Dypsis and Geoff mentioned sabals but other that that what are the other species that form one?

Don

[Tyrone]

Some Ravenea do, Rhopalystilis, Chamaedorea radicalis, there are more but I can't think of them at the moment.

Tyrone

[cfkingfish]

The "heel" is essentially the palm's center of root distribution. Essentially it forms the heel as a plant to "attack" the soil. Other genera that have heels:

Heterospathe

Some Raveneas

.....Ill think of more.

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck]

Hi Guys Refer to Tte Post I've just placed on Regarding The HEEL and Get The Real story behind what you are discussing go to the Post" Mystery Dypsis"I'm not sure how to transfer that post......Hope this helps out.

[DoomsDave]

Heel formers include:

Dypsis decipiens, D. lastelliana and presoniana; Sabals in general; Ravenea anivokely, sambiriensis, julietae.

Rhopalistylus sapida forms a very pronounced heel, while R. baueri's is much smaller.  Baueri tend to tweak badly in high winds, while sapidas don't.

dave

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Here is a pic of my Ceroxylon Alpinium's heel.

Jeff

[Don Little]

Thanks, everybody for the replies, I haven't noiced any heels on anything I have but at least I know what it is when I see one, good identifier I would think for those mystery species and others that can be hard to differentiate.

[Trópico]

So I recently learned that Kentiopsis species form a heel (from the Dypsis Dean's thread). I am growing some and I have several questions:

-Does that mean all individuals will form a heel or just some individuals of the same species, depending on growing conditions?

-Is the heel formed only during the trunkless stage?

-How does it affect the growth of a neat and straight trunk?

Dean, it would be awesome to have this thread in the FAQ section.

[PALM MOD]

(Trópico @ Jan. 11 2007,04:39)

QUOTE

So I recently learned that Kentiopsis species form a heel (from the Dypsis Dean's thread). I am growing some and I have several questions:

-Does that mean all individuals will form a heel or just some individuals of the same species, depending on growing conditions?

-Is the heel formed only during the trunkless stage?

-How does it affect the growth of a neat and straight trunk?

Dean, it would be awesome to have this thread in the FAQ section.

Frank,

After/when/if your questions are answered maybe someone (you?) could put together a short "article" or explanation of palms and heels. I could place that in the FAQs along with "What's a crownshaft," etc.

Any volunteers? Your name would appear alongside the article for all eternity.  

[Zac in NC]

Also forming a heel is Trachycarpus nanus. It seems that a ton of dwarfish palms do some sort of a heel, especially ones that grow on slopes.

Zac

[Phil]

If you think of the bottom of a new seedling's roots as being your foot while standing, now flex your knee to put your heel against your buttocks.  Your foot is the heel and your thight & knee become the subteranian shaft that one sees when digging a species like Rhopalostylis.

Phil.

[MattyB]

You did that just to get me to stand up huh?

[Zac in NC]

Phil- YES!!!! That is about the best explanation of this I have ever seen or read.

Zac

[Utopia Palms]

(Trópico @ Jan. 11 2007,09:39)

QUOTE

So I recently learned that Kentiopsis species form a heel (from the Dypsis Dean's thread). I am growing some and I have several questions:

-Does that mean all individuals will form a heel or just some individuals of the same species, depending on growing conditions?

-Is the heel formed only during the trunkless stage?

-How does it affect the growth of a neat and straight trunk?

Dean, it would be awesome to have this thread in the FAQ section.

Hi all,

I do not need my name put up for “all eternity” I just want to give you the right information, and I think that Mike and my self have explained this twice now.

To answer those other questions I have seen one sp that normally carries this gene only one plant! grow without the heel but this is nothing to go of

This is a gene that is carried by a species showing that it has the ancient trait of a clumping habit.

This is formed from a seedling stage. It also can help pull the plant down to insure that the plant has a solid hold in the ground.

This does not affect the shape of the trunk but it can sometimes move several inches away from its original position.

Clayton.

[chris.oz]

From my observations of these palms over the last few years it seems to me like this:

Palms dont have a tap root.  They produce adventitious roots in a root initiation zone which expands radially before the palm trunks but may extend up the stem for a distance up to 1 metre in some species after the trunk forms.    Some of the adventitious roots are contractile,  and they function to anchor the palm to the ground.

Normally the root initiation zone encircles the base of the palm and anchorage by the contractile roots acts evenly and the bud is aligned vertically from the outset,  while the root initiation zone expands radially to the point that the palm starts to trunk and the bud starts to be  lifted  upwards by the trunk.

In palms that form a heel,  the contractile roots form only around  about 180 degrees  of the root initiation zone. This has the effect of tilting the bud of the palm down towards the horizontal or even into the ground,  until the natural tendency of the bud to  align iself vertically and generate  upright  petioles overcomes the downwards pull of the contractile roots.

A proper full explanation probably lies buried in some paper in the annals of a botanical periodical,  not easily accessed on the internet.  Its certainly intriguing.

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck]

Chris Check out post 16 that explains HEAPS.....J.D.if you Are there could you Please can put this in a way that is chris could understand ,  would be greatly apprecated.Thank-you...

[chris.oz]

I would love to hear an explanation from JD about the heel.

I just took this image of one of mine .... R. glauca.   The heel looks so much like the one on Dypsis decipiens its uncanny.

[Kathy]

Bumping this because I'd like to know about special care regarding the heel of my heeled palms --

Should the entire heel always remain above the soil line as in these pics?  Some of my heeled palms I purchased with soil covering some of the heel, and I'm just now wondering about this -- is this OK?  Can someone give any other care requirements for this newbie?

[palmazon]

conventional wisdom says high and dry

[Jeff Searle]

Kathy,

  I reccomend that when you transplant your palm into the ground, or repot it, leave the boot still exposed above the soil line. Alot of times when I repot one of these palms,I will remove an inch or two of soil away, and raise the palm up just a bit.

Jeff

[Scott]

Don - I'm also glad you asked this question. I've been wondering about this heel for sometime now.

Thanks!

[Kathy]

Jeff and Palmazon, thanks.  I guess I don't need to worry about all the exposed roots coming off the heel?  Especially with highly angled heels?  Just let them be exposed?

[Kris]

(Jeff Searle @ Mar. 28 2007,09:04)

QUOTE

Alot of times when I repot one of these palms,I will remove an inch or two of soil away, and raise the palm up just a bit.

Jeff

Dear Jeff  

will method apply only to damaged palms or should this be a

thumbrule for all the transplanting to the ground ?

since in india due to hot weather,we do the opposite so as we

can fill some water near the roots..somewhat like a mild

stagnation pit.

Is this okay or must be corrected ?

Thanks & Love,

Kris  

[AJQ]

There are a few trachys that have heels, some but not all Fortunei and Takil have them too.

Regards Andy.

[Walter John]

You shouldn't plant them too high, it could fall over in those high heels  :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh:

[Don Little]

(Scott @ Mar. 28 2007,10:28)

QUOTE

Don - I'm also glad you asked this question. I've been wondering about this heel for sometime now.

Thanks!

Scott, I thought I would be laughed at when I asked the question but was glad to soon learn that I was not the only one who didn't know

[osideterry]

I just got a R sapida with a pretty obvious heel. The aspect of the palm is at an angle to accomodate this. I would prefer planting the thing as upright as possible. Now I know why most Rhopies I've seen have trunks curved at the bottom. Yet I have seen photos of very vertical trunked R sapida. The place I want to plant it isn't ideal for trunk that wants be angled for a while.

If I try to plant it vertical, the heel gets buried so do I find the best compromise?

[Darold Petty]

Terry,  when I pot up nikau palms I always position the spear leaf  vertical.  Don't be too concerned about the small heel.  I would guess that the base of the mature trunk will be at least 18 inches below the surface.  My question would be why your proposed spot can't handle a slight lean;  don't plant this palm too close to a wall or fence.  Plant now, give it two tablespoons of wine from the Marlborough district (red or white ::  and keep it wet!

[osideterry]

I'm planting about halfway beteween a Kentia multi and an Arch alexandra, and want it to eventually have a vertical look in that group. It's in a space about 30" deep with a concrete pool deck in front and a retaining wall behind. I don't want it curving toward the pool, away from the pool or toward the other palms. I'm normally not a control freak, but the placement forces me. If I can bury the heel, no problem.

[osideterry]

Do you recommend the Pinot Noir or the Sauv' Blanc? I'm going for the Pinot, because it's a bit more robust. In the summer I'll cool it down with Sauv Blanc.

[fiji jim]

The only palm of thousands that we have grown that has done the heel thing is this Latania verscahffeltii.

It was not interferred with and now seems to have straightened itself. the only other difference is that this one showed some red on petioles where others were only the usual yellow.

[fiji jim]

here's a close view of the heel

[Ken Johnson]

Rembember too that the "heel" is the trunk!

The first root will be just at the tip of the heel but is not seen in the

photos because if you can see the heel, by then the first root(s) are dead!

Palm trunks are some of the only in the entire Kingdom to grow againts gravity when young!

The function seems obvious, to anchor the palm deep in the ground to prevent falling over.

When mature, heeled palms form roots that smother the heel to the point that it dissapears! Disection will show the heel within the root mass!

F. Jim,   That Latainis is deformed. It looks like the bud has pierced through from the side due to an injury.

[Kathy]

(Ken Johnson @ Apr. 01 2007,19:25)

QUOTE

When mature, heeled palms form roots that smother the heel to the point that it dissapears! Disection will show the heel within the root mass!

Does this mean that if a heel on one of my palms is below the point of tons of rootmass that I don't need to worry about it being "high and dry" ??

I tried to "uncover" a couple of my palm heels and found that I could not -- that there were masses of roots around the palm at a point higher than the heel (not yet trunking).  So the base of the heel stays buried and pointed up towards the sky.

Terry, is this steep angle why you were considering planting with a lean, to make the heel flat on the ground?  'Cuz I already planted mine straight, with the heel angled upwards.

Is this all OK guys?

[TimHopper]

Kathy,Here in Florida it is humid with a lot of rain. Thats not great news for palms with tillering heels. On mine (mostly dypsis), I excavate the root zone around the heel and back-fill with clean gravel. I do this every year to keep soil from making contact with the heel, or roots surrounding the heel. I think covering with gravel works better than leaving exposed stilt roots because the drainage is good and there is no air pruning of newly forming roots. Tim

[96720]

I was wondering about heels and ran into this on the web I have 3 Attalea cohune only one has a heel and it’s the only one that looks healthy am just very curious about heels!!!!!

[Merlyn]

9 hours ago, 96720 said:

I was wondering about heels and ran into this on the web I have 3 Attalea cohune only one has a heel and it’s the only one that looks healthy am just very curious about heels!!!!!

I recently transplanted a small-ish one.  This had ~6-8 foot fronds before the January frost, and I moved it to where it would be a bit more sheltered from frost.  The heel on yours could be just below ground.  In this case I think I planted it a little bit too deep, so there was dirt getting directly into the crown as it was trying to push new fronds.  I kept having to do the hydrogen peroxide + Daconil to get decent looking fronds out of it.  When I transplanted it I put the heel an inch or so above ground level.  BTW - this heel section probably weighed 15-20lb.

[Looking Glass]

One thing I recently started wondering….  What happens if you are out weeding and you hypothetically, accidentally step on the heel, breaking the pointy end off???  (Asking for a friend)