Dichotomous branching

[Mandrew968]

There are several species of palm that display braching habits--we all know the primitive customs of Hyphaene; the genus is unique in that there is mainly just one species that doesn't bifurcate(petersiana). Many other genus have just one or two represented species that display such characteristics(Vonitras: crinita, fibrosa, utilis) regularly. However, from my short term experiences with palms, I have witnessed that, infact most species of palm can and sometimes do show dichotomous behavior(regular or irregular). Ptychosperma elegans quite often grows with as many a four heads from one single stem! Copernicia, Dypsis, Hedyscepe, Hyophorbe, Phoenix, Roystonea, Sabal(?), and Syagrus have also been known to display such unique habits.

Many people have told me this is due to an injury to the growing point/meristem. Other times the explanation is just a genetic anomaly. Are there any other reasons for this to occur?

Lastly, has anyone ever tried to produce bifurcating of a palm, not known to do so, naturally? Ptychosperma elegans is cheap, and I have often contemplated taking one to saw halfway down into the crown in an attempt to coax a split... Maybe if I had enough test subjects, could it be possible to exact my efforts?

[Mandrew968]

I guess no one's tried... Anyone even thought about it?

[chris.oz]

I guess no one's tried... Anyone even thought about it?

Yes, I thought about it. I decided not to try it, since advanced palms cost so much here, it would be an expensive exercise.

[Stevetoad]

my father in law has a Chamerops humilis that had a fungus. after treating it, it shot out about 12 new heads. now it looks like medusa. i've also seeen a p. robellini that was branching but also had damage to the crown. seems more common with suckering palms. personally i think they look goofy and wouldnt try to do make a palm do it, unless it was a natural trait like in Hyphaene.

[quaman58]

My two cents..I have a thin trunked suckering Dypsis, where one of the stems has branched about 2 feet above the soil level. I also have an Archontophoenix species, probably maxima, that "split" following a freeze event when it was very small. I thought it would grow into a cool palm, but after a year or so of both heads growing, one whithered & died. The palm now looks completely normal again; growing straight up. Then, there is the as yet unknown reason for out of control branching; around here, Livistona chinensis seems pretty susceptible to this, as does Phoenix robellinii. In this last case, the palms are usually not attractive & look overall unhealthy. I would guess that attempting to induce branching, at least in a way that is pleasing to the eye, would be an exercise in frustration. Maybe we could get B.S. man to try it on one of his rare Dypsis.

Bret

[Dypsisdean]

I remember an article many years ago in either the IPS or PSSC Journal (I think) that documented the intentional manipulation of the growing point of a Phoenix roebelenii to yield multiple heads. And it was wildly successful. I have seen several Phoenix roebelenii around with multiple heads of a dozen or more. But I do not know if these were intentional or not. And some I have seen have not been as unattractive as mentioned above. Perhaps just extra care is needed.

[cfkingfish]

I think that what was said earlier about the price of doing this is prohibitive in regular nursery operations. Even in tropical areas, losing a palm of size to fungus is much different than say, losing a Draceana branch.

[pindo]

Hello to all

At the Spanish forum several times we discussed this topic. Here is the link

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=14611&st=0&p=269381&hl=monstruo&fromsearch=1&#entry269381

in this post, you can see many branched palms

Mauser, a Spanish friend says in message 39, the branching may be induced by the lack of any micro element as Boro (see photo B nobilis)

You can also read about this topic in my website

This is the link (in English)

http://palmasenresistencia.blogspot.com/2010/07/branching-palms.html

Regards

Edited May 28, 2011 by pindo

[Mandrew968]

Pindo--your link to your page was AWESOME! I think Stevetoad needs to take a look at some of those photos if he thinks the palms that display this are ugly--I'll give that claim to the Phoenix robellini, but the others are excellent!

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck]

Nypa fruticans is a great one to see if you're looking at palms

that branch Dichotomous by forking (subterranean)

Mikey

[pindo]

Pindo--your link to your page was AWESOME! I think Stevetoad needs to take a look at some of those photos if he thinks the palms that display this are ugly--I'll give that claim to the Phoenix robellini, but the others are excellent!

I'm glad that my information is useful for you

cheers

[Stevetoad]

Checked out the link... Still not a fan. They look like a dragon blood tree or a yuca with a palm crown on top to me. I like Hyphaene branching because its natural and flows well. Most others look like a bunch of trunks glued together at some random point. I find them interesting but that's about it. Kinda like a hot woman with an extra leg sticking out of her back. Sure she may be sexy and interesting but in the back of your mind you still want that third leg removed. just my opinion...

[Urban Rainforest]

Mystery Dypsis branching

[Bae72]

There is a picture of Cocos Nucifera with damage. Is it possible for a coconut palm to undergo dichotomous branching? If so, how would one undertake such a nefarious act?

I'm going to be in coconut heaven in two days! Cairns here I come! (For the weekend.)

[Mandrew968]

Checked out the link... Still not a fan. They look like a dragon blood tree or a yuca with a palm crown on top to me. I like Hyphaene branching because its natural and flows well. Most others look like a bunch of trunks glued together at some random point. I find them interesting but that's about it. Kinda like a hot woman with an extra leg sticking out of her back. Sure she may be sexy and interesting but in the back of your mind you still want that third leg removed. just my opinion...

I don't date women with "third legs"... not even crossed my mind! Pretty sick image, Stevetoad--kinda like a possible Duece Bigalow 3. keep em comin'

[Mark Heath]

Checked out the link... Still not a fan. They look like a dragon blood tree or a yuca with a palm crown on top to me. I like Hyphaene branching because its natural and flows well. Most others look like a bunch of trunks glued together at some random point. I find them interesting but that's about it. Kinda like a hot woman with an extra leg sticking out of her back. Sure she may be sexy and interesting but in the back of your mind you still want that third leg removed. just my opinion...

I don't date women with "third legs"... not even crossed my mind! Pretty sick image, Stevetoad--kinda like a possible Duece Bigalow 3. keep em comin'

Good one Andrew!!!

[Kailua_Krish]

Here is a photo more relevant to the original discussion

It is of a branching Allagoptera at University of South Florida Botanical Gardens and was donated by Dr. Young I believe.

Edited June 3, 2011 by krishnaraoji88

[Geoff]

You left out a genus in which ALL the species branch dichotomously... well, since there is only one species in this genus, I guess that isn't surprising. Nannorhops all branch (eventually).

[Mandrew968]

I'd save Nannorhops for its own topic--It's monocarpic, but doesn't totally die, then branches just below the flowering stem... very unique and strange! Nice photos--maybe one day there will be more species to Nannorhops...

[pfancy]

here's a bifurcate robi that looks nice in San Clemente, CA

[palmislandRandy]

There is a picture of Cocos Nucifera with damage. Is it possible for a coconut palm to undergo dichotomous branching? If so, how would one undertake such a nefarious act?

I'm going to be in coconut heaven in two days! Cairns here I come! (For the weekend.)

Here ya go Sorry, but I don't know the source of the photo.

-Randy

[OldNed]

[OldNed]

Came across the above old topic when searching for something else. These are "king" Palms (Archontophoenix sp) at Helga's Nursery in Julatten, Australia. She has many, many of these branching palms that she grew from seeds of a branching one in another part of Queensland.

[Mandrew968]

Came across the above old topic when searching for something else. These are "king" Palms (Archontophoenix sp) at Helga's Nursery in Julatten, Australia. She has many, many of these branching palms that she grew from seeds of a branching one in another part of Queensland.

So you are saying that it's a trait and it is carried on to the next generation via seedlings?! That's a first for me to hear--the concensus always was that it was aan injury that caused such. Very cool, Ned!

Never seen a branching Archontophoenix, but it just goes to show you pretty much any species can 'split' I guess...

[Josh-O]

Ned, great pic's, thanks for sharing.