Chambeyronia macrocarpa (Green Leaf)

[Mike Evans]

I grow hundreds of chambeyronia macrocarpa but rarely see a pure green leaf come out consistently. This palm has has always produced green leaves (see below). What do other growers see in their stock? Has anyone else seen vary many green leaf specimens? I would say I see about 1% - 2% of the green leaf types. Will these revert to red as they mature?

[realarch]

MIke, not a grower here, but I have one green C. macrocarpa that has always thrown a green leaf. Not even a hint of color. It's probably 4 years old now and I doubt it will ever develop a red leaf.

It doesn't seem to be as robust as the standard type, but that's only an observation from my one and only green one.

Tim

[DoomsDave]

I have a specimen that's always been green, and it's got about 5 feet of trunk, I'd say about 15 years old from seed, more or less.

I have another that's a really light salmon pink, that's even bigger and more robust, same age.

[BigFrond]

I have 3 out of 4 in my second batch that are green. I'm so "lucky". ;-) I can't get rid of them because out their size and I like the fat leaves.

[richnorm]

I bought 10 habitat collected watermelon seed. All have pure green leaves so far. They are still young but regular macrocarpa would be showing some colour at this stage.

[DoomsDave]

richnorm:

I note that my "greenie" is also a very pronounced watermelon type.

[richnorm]

richnorm:

I note that my "greenie" is also a very pronounced watermelon type.

Photo?!

[DoomsDave]

richnorm:

I note that my "greenie" is also a very pronounced watermelon type.

Photo?!

Your weesh is my command, Sire!

[richnorm]

Thanks. I like it!

[Mike Evans]

richnorm:

I note that my "greenie" is also a very pronounced watermelon type.

Dave, do you use any fert high in Iron, or none? I experimented with a group of 3 mature macrocarpa, where I gave them high doses of Ferrous Sulfate (Iron) for a couple of years. I was wondering if the high iron would make the new red leaves a deeper red. My conclusion was the new leaves looked just as red, but the iron made the watermelon crownshaft a darker green, wiping out alot of the verigation. Oh well.

[Kennybenjamin]

Still a great palm!! Mike I think yours looks fantastic!! The leaf looks a

Limey green color? I like it!!

[DoomsDave]

richnorm:

I note that my "greenie" is also a very pronounced watermelon type.

Dave, do you use any fert high in Iron, or none? I experimented with a group of 3 mature macrocarpa, where I gave them high doses of Ferrous Sulfate (Iron) for a couple of years. I was wondering if the high iron would make the new red leaves a deeper red. My conclusion was the new leaves looked just as red, but the iron made the watermelon crownshaft a darker green, wiping out alot of the verigation. Oh well.

I don't use much fertilizer at all, though I did put down a lot of wood ashes recently. No change for now. I've 29 Chambeys in the ground, love them all so much. Too many, though . . .

[wildpalm]

Some populations in NC have green leaves exclusively. I remember Bryan Laughland recounting collecting seed somewhere near the middle of the island mid way between the coasts that threw only green leaves. A bunch of seed that I bought from RPS as "Hookeri" definately isn't and is only showing green new leaves. Other plants of standard macrocarpa of the same age are showing plenty of red so it's not conditions.

[richnorm]

Some populations in NC have green leaves exclusively. I remember Bryan Laughland recounting collecting seed somewhere near the middle of the island mid way between the coasts that threw only green leaves. A bunch of seed that I bought from RPS as "Hookeri" definately isn't and is only showing green new leaves. Other plants of standard macrocarpa of the same age are showing plenty of red so it's not conditions.

Were they very small seeds Alan? I got Hookeri from RPS at the same time and mine are as expected. The w/m seeds were about half normal size. Maybe there was a mix up? Just finished planting a group of 26 Chambeyronias, phew! Hoping to be up your way in next few days but will call.

[weta2000nz]

The form of Chambeyronia macrocarpa Alan is referring to that only throws green fronds is near Katrikoin, in central New Caledonia. The local residents confirmed the palms growing there never had red fronds. I remember collecting several hundred fallen ripe seed from this population in 1991 or 1992. The seed was only about half the size of the other forms of Chambeyronia macrocarpa that I came across. No doubt there are other morphological differences as well. There is a good photo of this population, and also a photo of a single palm in the population, on the "endemia.nc" website that I've attached.
Bryan Laughland

New Zealand

[Kennybenjamin]

The form of Chambeyronia macrocarpa Alan is referring to that only throws green fronds is near Katrikoin, in central New Caledonia. The local residents confirmed the palms growing there never had red fronds. I remember collecting several hundred fallen ripe seed from this population in 1991 or 1992. The seed was only about half the size of the other forms of Chambeyronia macrocarpa that I came across. No doubt there are other morphological differences as well. There is a good photo of this population, and also a photo of a single palm in the population, on the "endemia.nc" website that I've attached.

Bryan Laughland

New Zealand

Wealth of information here, thank you!!! And welcome!!!!!

Love your pics and particularly your avatar, is it Carpoxylon???? Or maybe Chamby houailou????

[akamu]

My friend bob had one that didn't turn red for years . maybe some are less shy and some blush when they open

[weta2000nz]

Hi Benjamin,

You are welcome. My avatar is a Chambeyronia "Houailou" I photographed outside the post office at Poindimié, New Caledonia, in the 1990's.

Bryan

[richnorm]

Hi Benjamin,

You are welcome. My avatar is a Chambeyronia "Houailou" I photographed outside the post office at Poindimié, New Caledonia, in the 1990's.

Bryan

Hi Bryan,

Did you collect any other notable forms of macrocarpa that made it to NZ? Ever seen a really robust form with a waxy crownshaft?

cheers

Richard

[Pedro 65]

Ive talked of our " New Blue C/shaft" that 1 of our macrocarpa's get b4, and its new leaf is the "green variety".

Both these macrocarpa's where bought in the early 90s and the 1 on the left throws red but "both" have very thin trunks no doubt due to deep red soil and dry section of gardens.

Pete

[realarch]

Thanks for the photos Bryan, just fantastic. Pete, my only C. macrocarpa that throws a green leaf is by far the most diminutive of the half dozen I have. I did dig it up and move it, so that might be the reason as well.

Tim

[weta2000nz]

Hi Richard,

No, the only other forms I ever collected were Chambeyronia "Houailou" and C. hookeri. At the time it appeared that Chambeyronia macrocarpa was not well suited to cultivation in Auckland, even though it germinated easily and grew well at the seedling stage. So I was more interested in selling as many seeds as I could overseas, to people in warmer climates, in order to defray expenses of the trips. However, many seeds germinated in NZ before I could export them.These remained in NZ and ended up with various people. I certainly have none now.
Of course this situation has now changed (through the efforts of Alan Booth and others) discovering that palms that are marginal for the Auckland climate can be grown successfully if they are first grown on to a large size in a greenhouse, before planting out and subjecting the palms to Auckland's cool wet winters.
I'm sure you are aware of the two short articles on pages 6 through 8 in issue 116 (Winter 2010) "Rare Chambeyronia" in 'NZ Palm and Cycad' by anon and Alan Booth respectively. See these for more info on the types of Chambeyronia in NC. The info there may well have been updated elsewhere in the intervening years.
Unlike the vast majority of New Caledonia's palm species, C.macrocarpa is found in many places throughout all of New Caledonia, and appears to vary widely over its range.There are no doubt many variations are growing in isolated and hard to access locations. Some of these may be known to some of the local palm enthusiasts. Getting access to seeds of these variations is another question entirely.

I have no knowledge of a robust form of C.marcocarpa with a waxy crownshaft.

Bryan Laughland
New Zealand.

[richnorm]

Thanks Bryan. Yes, have re-read those a few times over the years! I am surprised that people had problems in the early days but perhaps potting mixes have improved. I would rate Chambeyronia as an easy grow from seed without any special facilities here in the Waitaks. The low form of lepidota are a bit tricky but I've never had any losses with other forms in the shadehouse. I hope I haven't planted them out too small. Everything seems possible at this time of year!

[weta2000nz]

That's good to hear Richard. Maybe potting mixes have improved. Or maybe I was a bit impatient and did not treat my Chambeyronias as well as I should have. I do have 3 standard C.macrocarpa in a pot that have been sitting in Alan Shaw's shade house for many many years. They are about 1 metre tall and I retrieved them about a year ago. No doubt had they been potted on they would be much bigger by now. As long as I don't neglect to water tem over summer they could be planted out at my place this summer - if I can find a place to put them. Things are a bit crowded here atm in spite of the many large palms I have had removed by Treefellas etc. over the years.

I am curious about this "low form" of C.lepidota. I know I found C.lepidota growing at relatively low altitudes on Mt Panié, perhaps at only 200 metres asl. But I was not aware this is any different to C.lepidota that are found as emergent palms at higher altitudes, say 900m asl.
Bryan

[richnorm]

I meant low end of the range ie this one: http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/ChaMid.shtml rather than this one:http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/ChaHig.shtml They are best described as the Mid and High forms. They are very different in cultivation.

cheers

Richard