Who is growing Cyclanthaceae?

[doranakandawatta]

More and more I discover Cyclanthaceaea species and LOVE them.

Do some Palmtalk members grow these species in their garden, associated with palms too?

Does ICS (International Cyclanthaceae Society) exist?

It seems to me they are wonderful plants for tropical gardens, but difficult to find, why?

[sgvcns]

I started a similar topic earlier this year.

There are some good photos of different cyclanths posted by stone jaguar.

They are a great addition to a tropical garden.

Steve

[doranakandawatta]

Thank you Steve

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/36974-cyclanthacea/#entry576778 is really interesting,

Cyclanthacea plants seem to be very rare and difficult to find! Does any nursery grow a collection?

[Eric in Orlando]

The Cyclanthaceae has always been interesting to me (along with Pandanaceae). But it is very hard to find anything but a few species in cultivation.

Most seem very tender to cold. I have tried a few here.

Asplundia rigida (commonly sold as "Jungle Drum") is very tender, burns below 40F and below 35F will kill it.

Cyclanthus bipartitus so far is the only cyclanth hardy here. It shows some burn in the mid 30sF and below 30-32F kills it back but it resprouts quickly from the roots.

Ludovia lancifolia also very tender, dies below around 35F.

I have yet to try Carludovica palmata here. This is probably the most common cyclanth. It grows in south Florida. I would be curious if it is root hardy here in central FL.

[Donald Sanders]

I have responded to this topic before and there has been valuable information on cyclanthus posted here and worth researching. I have been actively growing cyclanthus for over 30 years. There are many beautiful terrestrial species like cyclanthus bipartritus (many forms of biparitius), carludovica palmate(several forms of this) and ludovia lancifolia (several forms too) growing terrestrially as well as in the trees.(I personally have seen it in the trees along the Rio Negro in Brazil.)

Then there is the asplundia cyclanthus, This is like a vine with palm shaped leaves in many forms. The great botanist HARLING, described at least 90 'versions' of asplundia, check the list on Wikipedia.

Few in the world collect and grow this plant for pleasure. It is very rare to see these plants for sale and then only the most common species. They are very tropical and hate to dry out. I have corresponded with growers around the world and aside from collecting them yourself, or knowing some one into collecting them, they are very difficult to find. I only have 8 species and perhaps the only asplundia I know of growing in the Hawaiian Islands.

I live at an altitude of 1500' on the west side of the Big Island in a cool tropical climate almost exactly the same as the mountains of Costa Rica where many, many species of cyclanthus grow.

They are not real fast, I consider the climbing asplundia slow.

Many years ago I was told that botanists searching for palms in the difficult terrain of places like the Central American mountains, often went to great trouble locating what they thought was a palm only to be disappointed to see it was a cyclanthus.

That discouraged interest in this plant. Because they are cold sensitive they are difficult to grow in Cal and Fla and that eliminated a huge number of potential growers and collectors.

If you are interested in my research and growing experience with cyclanthus; please contact me directly.

I am most interested in anything anyone has to post about cyclanthaceae.

Thank you. Don

[tjwalters]

Don.

Interesting information. The first one I bought was mixed in with a bunch of Chinese fan palms sitting on a plant bench at one of the better nurseries in my area. I didn't know what it was at the time but I knew it wasn't like the others, so I bought it. Not sure if it was Carludovica or Asplundia, but whatever it was it eventually died. I see them for sale occasionally but have never bought another. Nice plants, though, and if I were in a more hospitable climate I would try some. USDA zone 7 makes it a bit difficult.

-t

[Donald Sanders]

The nomenclature is often non definitive with cyclanthus. Everyone seems to know the exact name of these plants that few have seen or studied. I personally am never 100% sure exactly what the correct name is. Just wait until some tells you what cyclanthus bipartitus is or isn't! As a rule of thumb most of the vine like climbers are asplundia.

You can purchase on ebay a 'Panama Hat Plant' (Carludovica Palmata) very inexpensive. It might be fun to grow inside during winter, outside summer. I grew my first one in a pot many years ago when I lived in S. Cal. I left one potted out side all winter, it died back but came up again. I think they would make it there if very protected.

Good luck, cyclanthus species is one of my most favorites.

Don

[Eric in Orlando]

I wonder if any Cyclanthaceae grow wild into subtropical regions.

[Moose]

Andrew just acquired a very nice one at the silent auction table during the South Florida Palm Society Holiday Soiree.

[tropicbreeze]

I've only ever managed to find 4 species, yet just Asplundia alone has over 100 currently recognised species. Mine seem very happy in lowland tropics, although the Ludovia lancifolia isn't doing as well as the others.

[Jose Maria]

I have responded to this topic before and there has been valuable information on cyclanthus posted here and worth researching. I have been actively growing cyclanthus for over 30 years. There are many beautiful terrestrial species like cyclanthus bipartritus (many forms of biparitius), carludovica palmate(several forms of this) and ludovia lancifolia (several forms too) growing terrestrially as well as in the trees.(I personally have seen it in the trees along the Rio Negro in Brazil.)

Then there is the asplundia cyclanthus, This is like a vine with palm shaped leaves in many forms. The great botanist HARLING, described at least 90 'versions' of asplundia, check the list on Wikipedia.

Few in the world collect and grow this plant for pleasure. It is very rare to see these plants for sale and then only the most common species. They are very tropical and hate to dry out. I have corresponded with growers around the world and aside from collecting them yourself, or knowing some one into collecting them, they are very difficult to find. I only have 8 species and perhaps the only asplundia I know of growing in the Hawaiian Islands.

I live at an altitude of 1500' on the west side of the Big Island in a cool tropical climate almost exactly the same as the mountains of Costa Rica where many, many species of cyclanthus grow.

They are not real fast, I consider the climbing asplundia slow.

Many years ago I was told that botanists searching for palms in the difficult terrain of places like the Central American mountains, often went to great trouble locating what they thought was a palm only to be disappointed to see it was a cyclanthus.

That discouraged interest in this plant. Because they are cold sensitive they are difficult to grow in Cal and Fla and that eliminated a huge number of potential growers and collectors.

If you are interested in my research and growing experience with cyclanthus; please contact me directly.

I am most interested in anything anyone has to post about cyclanthaceae.

Thank you. Don

Here in Costa Rica one can find many Cyclantaceae, thinking at first sight there are palms. But after a close look they are no palms at all.

Many wild and nice looking species abound in the forests here, some climbing.I have no recent pictures of them , they come in all sizes.

A word of warning for other tropical areas such as Hawaii and Australia: Carludovica palmata is a real nasty weed here, not only in oil-palm plantations, but even in the flower- pots in my garden. As a weed it grows faster even than any other, even grasses. Once Carludovica produces fruit it is cherry-red and very appetizing for birds, who will disperse it in no time.Better not introduce it, I think it is "bad news".

[Jeff in St Pete]

I agree with Jose Maria that some of these can be invasive in the tropics. When I lived at the beach I was constantly pulling Carludovica palmata seedlings from my potted palms. Those plants pop up everywhere (along with Calathea lutea).

[doranakandawatta]

Jeff,

It's always funny to see how the weeds of somebody can be the dream of others!
Since I saw Calathea lute in Singapore, I am watching my three plants like jewels and they grow slowly.

We have only one Carludovica and wish we could have more!

[Jose Maria]

Sometimes I have this idea too

....... the weeds of somebody can be the dream of others!

I get the same idea as I walk through a forest in Costa Rica and find many kinds of what would be considered "houseplants" in Europe, growing like weeds all over the forest floor.

Calathea lutea grows along the roads here and at night, as the underside of the leaves is covered with waxy scales, the leaves reflect the headlights of the cars.This way Calatheas stand out among most vegetation. They grow much faster than palms, reaching 2 or 3 meters in no time.

Carludovica palmata grow everywhere here, the flowers look very much like spaghetti, and are edible, They are called "estococa".People who live on farms sometimes gather them to be used a vegetable.

Edited December 8, 2013 by Jose Maria

[Jeff in St Pete]

Jose Maria, here is a photo of one growing near my old house in Manuel Antonio. It does look like spaghetti.

[Jose Maria]

Hi Jeff,

Somewhere I had a picture of these spaghettis , but my computer clonked out, and the pics with it. Now I am beginning to store in the cloud ,etc...

[doranakandawatta]

Jose Maria, here is a photo of one growing near my old house in Manuel Antonio. It does look like spaghetti.

Carludovica.jpg

Jeff,

Where are the seeds in these spaghetti ? and the parmiggiano?

[Jose Maria]

I don't know if cooking these kinds of spaghetti require Parmigiano.

The spaghetti are the flowers, the fruit is a cherry-red, full of small seeds. Carludovica are not always flowering or setting fruit, only in certain "seasons".

[tropicbreeze]

What's the pollinating agent for them. My Asplundia flowers a lot but never any seed.

[aussiearoids]

Zig , whatever pollinates them is not around here ... and supplier of them is not giving away any secrets .

[tropicbreeze]

Thanks Michael. At least I know not to hold my breath. You don't know whether they can be hand pollinated, do you? My plant never multiplies, even though it's getting quite large.

[Donald Sanders]

I have purchased on ebay, seeds of an asplundia from Panama. To me asplundia is the climbing vine cyclanthus. (nomenclature is not written in stone) They were near microscopic with a note that they take a very long time to germinate. No luck for me.

I took a piece of the vine about as big as a pencil from Costa Rica and I was able to get it to grow. My only climbing asplundia. Remember there are almost 100 named varieties of aspundia in Wikipedia. I was in awe of the forest literally dripping with many cyclanthus species both climbing and terrestrial, in Costa Rica. Here on the west dry side of the Big Island I live in a carbon copy of where they often are native. I have been following the climate of 2 Costa Rican locations where I collected cyclanthus. All Costa Rica has over me is rain. I water a lot, yet cyclanthus here is slow, rare, often unknown. Cardludovica palmate rarely sets viable seed. I say rarely but I have never seen it naturalized from seed but there are so many gardens on the wet tropical side of this island, I am reluctant to say they 'never' set viable seed. I haven't seen it with all my observations of cyclanthus on this island. Here we propagate with root divisions. C. palmate is in many gardens here although not common. It's use as a stunning addition to landscape architecture, here is nil.

I am personally very happy to see interest in Cyclanthaceae. I have been interested in this beautiful palm like family for many years. So often even accomplished horticulturist were unfamiliar with Cyclanthaceae and it was difficult to learn more other than first hand experience. With so many different cyclanthus out there I am still surprised how few collect them. I only have 9 species.

I too wonder what the variable is that makes Cyclanthaceae seeds viable in its native environment.

Thank you to everyone for sharing your experience with Cyclanthaceae in this forum.

If you think it is hard to find those with an interest in Cyclanthaceae, I also am interested in Pandanus. Here I go again!

Aloha, Don

[aussiearoids]

Curt Butterfield managed to get seed set on Ludovia lancifolia once .. it seems to be in many collections here . Offsets easily also .

Chris Hall has managed to get seeds on some of the other ones around up here , but never heaps .

I have planted out some and got them growing finally .

[Eric in Orlando]

They have some interesting Cyclanthaceae growing in the Climatron at Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, MO.

Carludovica palmata

Carludovica rotundifolia

Carludovica sulcata

Chorigyne ensiformis

[Eric in Orlando]

Cyclanthus bipartitus

Dicranopygium wallisii

Ludovia lancifolia

[tropicbreeze]

Great photos those. Good to see how the Ludovia lancifolia grows. I've never known whether mine wanted more sun or less, damper/more humid or drier, more or less epiphytic or terrestrial. Just no information anywhere. After a bit of experimenting it seems that it prefers a bit less sun and more epiphytic than terestrial. Mine's on some small logs with roots within easy reach of the ground if it wants to do that. Hoping it'll multiply soon.

[sgvcns]

I have found Cyclanths difficult to collect.

I have found the seed difficult to process. As stated the seed is very small.

Cleaning the seed from the "cone" takes quite a bit of effort and some equipment.

I also have not had a great strike rate but they will always be a target group in my travels.

It seems as though I will not be returning to their habitat for 18 months(deep sigh)

From my experience in Sth America( admittedly only Panama & Colombia) they do not hold lots of seed.

Wish cuttings were an option in Oz.

Ever hopeful though. 12 months to sprout from seed seems the minimum.

[Jeff in St Pete]

Some photos I took yesterday around Manuel Antonio/Quepos, Costa Rica.

Cyclanthus bipartitus

Carludovica

[Jose Maria]

Here in Costa Rica Cyclantaceae are mostly found in the forest, in the shade. But Carludovica is to be found everywhere, under trees , and also along roads in full sun, even in pots as a weed.In a pot they crowd out all other plants.

As a weed it is periodically mowed around here, but it grows back faster than grasses or Heliconias(also a weed here) .

[FNQ Marcus]

Last year I decided to dedicate a part of my palm garden to Cyclanthaceae. However 4 species later I gave up because I couldn't source any additional species.

Now the remaining spots have been filled with palms.

I hope they become more popular one day because they really are stunning plants.

[Jose Maria]

Here are some of the common Cyclantaceae that grow wild here.Some terrestrial , some climbing. Sorting the names of them is new for me so I leave these here to be appreciated .

Edited December 28, 2013 by Jose Maria

[piping plovers]

Not sure if anyone is still tracking this thread 6 years later:  I never knew of these plants.  I visited the Naples (Florida) Botanical Garden this week and found what I thought was the Joey palm (Johannesteijsmannia altifrons), but as I got closer I realized it was something else.  The tag listed "Unk. cyclanthaceae"  Two photos below. Anyone know what species this one is? I am assuming the genus is Cyclanthaceae based on the cryptic tag info.  Are they generally recommended / available commercially as houseplants?

Thanks!