Tahina spectabilis in California

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Did anyone in California succeed with the 2008 seed batch?

[MattyB]

Too early to tell for me

[Stevetoad]

Too early to tell for me

where is that hiding!

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

How cool! Seems this palm has some potential if seedlings are surviving.

[Toby]

For those who missed in our recent newsletter, I will post the news on Tahina below. Best, TOBY

I am delighted to announce that Tahina spectabilis has been flowering again a while ago, and we have patiently been waiting for many months for the seeds to mature, be picked, and finally arrive at our warehouse last week. This is only the second time that seeds of this critically endangered species are commercially available. The first time seeds were distributed, exclusively by rarepalmseeds.com, was in 2008, and this has turned into a remarkable success. The resulting plants are now growing in enthusiasts' collections and botanical gardens all over the world and the largest are already about 2 m (7 ft.) tall. Now, seeds are available again to add to these plantings and for all those who missed out last time. We are distributing these exclusively and on a non-profit basis. All the proceeds go to Madagascar to help the people that live around the Tahina habitat protect the future of this unique palm. The profits from the 2008 collection helped fund a school for 60 kids, buy agricultural equipment for the local community and, most importantly, made it possible to clear and maintain fire breaks around the palm grove to keep damaging fires from spreading from the surrounding fields. This measure is not to be underestimated in a country where it is common practice to clear virtually all fields and grassland by annual fires. The number of seeds available again is strictly limited as one of the goals is to leave enough in their natural environment for regeneration of the existing, fragile population. This is indeed an unique opportunity to purchase seeds of one of the worlds rarest palms and , at the same time, make a contribution towards its preservation.

Tahina spectabilis - Blessed Palm

Undoubtedly the most exciting discovery in the world of palms in the new millennium, this magnificent, massive fan palm was found by accident by cashew-grower Xavier Metz and his family in a single, small area in the northwest of Madagascar, where it grows in low, seasonally dry forest or scrubland that may be flooded during the rainy season, at the foot of heavily eroded limestone hills. It represents not only just a new species but an entirely new genus in the palm family. Some amazing background to its discovery can be read up in several threads on the internet forum of the International Palm Society at http://palmtalk.org/

Tahina grows a massive, solitary trunk, which holds a giant crown of enormous, slightly costapalmate and completely circular fan leaves with numerous stiff segments. The petioles are whitish towards the base. It has already made the rounds through the mainstream press as the 'exploding' or 'self-destructing' palm, a somewhat sensationalist allusion to the fact that it flowers only once in its life, with a totally spectacular, giant, whitish inflorescence that forms from the center of the crown. After the fruits have matured and have been harvested by lemurs, who thereby distribute the seeds, the palm is spent, the massive structure slowly collapses and the palm dies. This flowering habit is not unique to Tahina, in fact many palms exhibit what botanists refer to as a hapaxanthic mode of growth, a few examples being Corypha, Metroxylon and many climbing palms. Really noteworthy, however, are its closest relatives in the palm family and their distribution. It is most closely allied to Kerriodoxa from Thailand and Chuniophoenix from China, easily seen in the seeds alone, and one can speculate that Tahina is a relic on Madagascar, sharing a common ancestor with the above from the time when the Indian subcontinent was only just beginning its northward voyage and separating off from Madagascar, some 70 to 50 million years ago.

In cultivation it would be a breathtaking ornamental for the large garden or park, and would most likely do best in the dry tropics. It could doubtlessly be induced to grow in many other tropical and frost free subtropical areas. It seems that growth is rather fast, but it is entirely unclear how long a plant will take to flower. Much like Kerriodoxa, the seed produces a moderately long sinker to anchor the base of the plant well in the soil. Deep pots would be recommended.

With a total known population in its native habitat of just 92 individuals and perhaps 100 small seedlings, the palm is very rare and efforts with the aim to protect its natural habitat have been initiated and are now managed by Xavier Metz and John Dransfield. The distribution of seeds appears to be the best way to establish some cultivated populations for ex-situ conservation and at the same time generate funds for the nearby villagers who „own and manage" the habitat of the palm under a relatively new law in Madagascar. The villagers are now very aware of the uniqueness of the palm and understand that flowering is probably a rather rare event. Any profits resulting from the sale of the seeds distributed under this conservation program will go to their community. The funds are destined towards village development, such as a pump for the village well, and aim at keeping cattle and fire away from the palms. The approach is that when the villagers can see that there is some financial return from the palm, they will likely want to preserve it and its habitat.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

I sent a bunch of them to CA back in the day, I'd also be interested to hear of successes.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

For those who missed in our recent newsletter, I will post the news on Tahina below. Best, TOBY

I am delighted to announce that Tahina spectabilis has been flowering again a while ago, and we have patiently been waiting for many months for the seeds to mature, be picked, and finally arrive at our warehouse last week. This is only the second time that seeds of this critically endangered species are commercially available. The first time seeds were distributed, exclusively by rarepalmseeds.com, was in 2008, and this has turned into a remarkable success. The resulting plants are now growing in enthusiasts' collections and botanical gardens all over the world and the largest are already about 2 m (7 ft.) tall. Now, seeds are available again to add to these plantings and for all those who missed out last time. We are distributing these exclusively and on a non-profit basis. All the proceeds go to Madagascar to help the people that live around the Tahina habitat protect the future of this unique palm. The profits from the 2008 collection helped fund a school for 60 kids, buy agricultural equipment for the local community and, most importantly, made it possible to clear and maintain fire breaks around the palm grove to keep damaging fires from spreading from the surrounding fields. This measure is not to be underestimated in a country where it is common practice to clear virtually all fields and grassland by annual fires. The number of seeds available again is strictly limited as one of the goals is to leave enough in their natural environment for regeneration of the existing, fragile population. This is indeed an unique opportunity to purchase seeds of one of the worlds rarest palms and , at the same time, make a contribution towards its preservation.

Tahina spectabilis - Blessed Palm

Undoubtedly the most exciting discovery in the world of palms in the new millennium, this magnificent, massive fan palm was found by accident by cashew-grower Xavier Metz and his family in a single, small area in the northwest of Madagascar, where it grows in low, seasonally dry forest or scrubland that may be flooded during the rainy season, at the foot of heavily eroded limestone hills. It represents not only just a new species but an entirely new genus in the palm family. Some amazing background to its discovery can be read up in several threads on the internet forum of the International Palm Society at http://palmtalk.org/

Tahina grows a massive, solitary trunk, which holds a giant crown of enormous, slightly costapalmate and completely circular fan leaves with numerous stiff segments. The petioles are whitish towards the base. It has already made the rounds through the mainstream press as the 'exploding' or 'self-destructing' palm, a somewhat sensationalist allusion to the fact that it flowers only once in its life, with a totally spectacular, giant, whitish inflorescence that forms from the center of the crown. After the fruits have matured and have been harvested by lemurs, who thereby distribute the seeds, the palm is spent, the massive structure slowly collapses and the palm dies. This flowering habit is not unique to Tahina, in fact many palms exhibit what botanists refer to as a hapaxanthic mode of growth, a few examples being Corypha, Metroxylon and many climbing palms. Really noteworthy, however, are its closest relatives in the palm family and their distribution. It is most closely allied to Kerriodoxa from Thailand and Chuniophoenix from China, easily seen in the seeds alone, and one can speculate that Tahina is a relic on Madagascar, sharing a common ancestor with the above from the time when the Indian subcontinent was only just beginning its northward voyage and separating off from Madagascar, some 70 to 50 million years ago.

In cultivation it would be a breathtaking ornamental for the large garden or park, and would most likely do best in the dry tropics. It could doubtlessly be induced to grow in many other tropical and frost free subtropical areas. It seems that growth is rather fast, but it is entirely unclear how long a plant will take to flower. Much like Kerriodoxa, the seed produces a moderately long sinker to anchor the base of the plant well in the soil. Deep pots would be recommended.

With a total known population in its native habitat of just 92 individuals and perhaps 100 small seedlings, the palm is very rare and efforts with the aim to protect its natural habitat have been initiated and are now managed by Xavier Metz and John Dransfield. The distribution of seeds appears to be the best way to establish some cultivated populations for ex-situ conservation and at the same time generate funds for the nearby villagers who „own and manage" the habitat of the palm under a relatively new law in Madagascar. The villagers are now very aware of the uniqueness of the palm and understand that flowering is probably a rather rare event. Any profits resulting from the sale of the seeds distributed under this conservation program will go to their community. The funds are destined towards village development, such as a pump for the village well, and aim at keeping cattle and fire away from the palms. The approach is that when the villagers can see that there is some financial return from the palm, they will likely want to preserve it and its habitat.

I placed an order about three weeks ago as part of my obsession with giant fan palms, in fact, just a day before posting this thread. $75 is a hefty price, I've never, ever paid this much for seeds, my obsession clearly has gone too far as but it makes me feel a little better to know the money is going to a good cause.

[David Clulow]

I mentioned before that I lost some Tahina spectabilis when I planted them out in my arboretum. Well this year, I have planted three more seedlings near to my house so that I personally can look after them. Here is a photo of a nice seedling which is being irrigated and looked after, the other ones in the arboretum were just planted and left to themselves. I took this photo for the yearbook of the International Dendrology Society, which will be publishing an article on my arboretum in the 2013 edition. As far as I know, I am the only member of the I.D.S. to grow this taxon - are there any more IDS members in this group?

Edited March 11, 2013 by David Clulow

[Central Floridave]

"frost free subtropical areas. It seems that growth is rather fast,"

Thanks for the info.

I live in a frost free subtropical area. E.Central Florida. I rarely water mine and like to report that it has been a slow grower for me up to this point. However, I have stepped up the watering as its been in the ground a couple years now. I can only imagine the roots are doing the majority of the growing as the top has barely moved.

[Matt in SD]

Mine is going through it's second winter outside here and seems fine. I'm in a particularly cold microclimate. I know of a couple others outside doing well in socal. Not growing too fast but they are growing...not just surviving.

[MattyB]

I periodically hit it with hydrogen peroxide, just because it's so small and the growing point is down in the dirt. I had a 2 year set back when it was in the pot and it aborted the growing point and threw a dweezle out the side.

[Gonzer]

threw a dweezle out the side.

How far can you throw a dweezle Matt?

[Toby]

I guess the "growth is rather fast" applies largely to tropical climates. Central Florida and California is more marginal for Tahina and hence not surprisingly much slower. Some of the Tahina seen at the Biennial in Thailand at Nong Nooch Gardens are over 6ft. now. Not super fast but quite reasonable I would say and I would expect them to speed up growth once bigger too.

Best, TOBY

[waykoolplantz]

I sent a bunch of them to CA back in the day, I'd also be interested to hear of successes.

I gotta bunch from you...gave some away, planted 4. Lost one...but the other three are doing great...1.5-2m...the best looking at the edge of the pond.Still have a few in pots but growth less than half those in the ground

[Briank]

Looking to some day purchase a seeedling.  I don’t know how to grow seeds lol hope someday to run across one in CA 

[Josh-O]

Mine is chugging along very nicely here is sunny San Diego

[Josh-O]

that picture is almost 2 yrs old. it much larger now

[Kris]

Dear Josh,

Visuals Please...

Love,

Kris.

 

[JubaeaMan138]

Any updates on this ?