Need more help with Licuala species

[LilikoiLee]

I purchased two mid-sized Licuala at the HIPS auction last night; a lauterbachii and a distans. Researching their mature sizes has, of course, been frustrating. As usual, the pictures show palms and provide descriptions that have moderate to drastic differences.

One of the sites said that lauterbachii and ramsayi are so similar that they have to be planted next to each other to tell them apart which the pictures I saw didn't substantiate.

One of the sites had a photo of Jeff Searles lauterbachii. I hope Jeff or someone else will be able to help me get a more accurate idea of what I can expect in mature size, width and growth rate.

The other palm I purchased was a L. distans. I have to admit I didn't even Google it since I have no confidence in the information I would find.

Mucho Mahalos (Many Thanks)in advance for your help with any information you can provide.

Lee

PS: It was already too dark to take pictures when I came in to ask for your help but I promise to post some tomorrow.

[Cindy Adair]

Licuala distans shortly after planting August 2013

Licuala lauterbachii planted April 2009, shown August 2013

Licuala ramsayii planted June 2009, shown October 2013

Lee, I obviously haven't had these plants long enough to really comment on their growth rates or mature sizes so would be interested in comparisons also.

[Dr. George]

Aloha Lee

I think Palmpedia has some good pics and info:

Licuala distans

Licuala lauterbachii

gmp

[MarkF]

Hi Lee,

There's a Ramsayi here and it's about 6-7' tall so maybe it's indicative?

[LilikoiLee]

Hi Lee,

There's a Ramsayi here and it's about 6-7' tall so maybe it's indicative?

Mark, Many thanks. I am sure your palms are an excellent indication of what we can expect from ours. Would you please let me know what their widths are as well? We are currently planting a garden dedicated to Licuala and want to make sure we don't overplant it.

Thanks again!

[mike in kurtistown]

Lee,

Both are among the larger and taller Licualas. I had pics of lauterbachii at the banquet, but no one could see anything because we didn't have a proper screen. Here are the pics I used, one from Rarepalmseeds, the other my own picture at Nong Nooch:

L. distans has huge leaves. Check out the photos in Palms of Thailand (Hodel's book).

[LilikoiLee]

Aloha Lee

I think Palmpedia has some good pics and info:

Licuala distans

Licuala lauterbachii

gmp

Aloha Dr. G,

Thanks for the reply. Palmpedia has become one of our two favorite information resources. However, in this case we found the information posted by the person (sorry I don't remember his name or location) about the lauterbachii a bit confusing when he said the ramsayi and lauterbachii were almost identical and needed to be planted close to each other in order to distinguish the two species. Certainly not true from ours or other pictures we've seen.

The other thing that has been confusing me is whether when the width of the leaves is given that includes the length of the petiole; information that is essential, particularly when you're planting palms close together. Since you growing 99% of the plant's palm species I am quite certain you can help me with this question.

Lee

[MarkF]

Lee, if you guys have a spare mo, why not use the new Saddle road and have a visit. There are a number of Licualas here, only a few labelled and some cryptically. Maybe between you and mike, me and Larissa, a book or two, and something cool in a glass and we might just figure out what's what...

[tropicbreeze]

L. ramsayi get to about 15 metres tall. The ones in this photo are 10 to 12 metres tall. Some of my other photos of tall ones are difficult to see clearly because of being up in the canopy and amongst other dense vegetation.

[Dr. George]

Aloha Lee

I think Palmpedia has some good pics and info:

Licuala distans

Licuala lauterbachii

gmp

Aloha Dr. G,

Thanks for the reply. Palmpedia has become one of our two favorite information resources. However, in this case we found the information posted by the person (sorry I don't remember his name or location) about the lauterbachii a bit confusing when he said the ramsayi and lauterbachii were almost identical and needed to be planted close to each other in order to distinguish the two species. Certainly not true from ours or other pictures we've seen.

The other thing that has been confusing me is whether when the width of the leaves is given that includes the length of the petiole; information that is essential, particularly when you're planting palms close together. Since you growing 99% of the plant's palm species I am quite certain you can help me with this question.

Lee

Well, Lee - Hate to disappoint you, but I'm afraid that I'm a bit below the 99% mark - we have several ramsayi and distans but the only lauterbachii is a var bouganvillense seedling (has the wide terminal leaf) germinated from seed from the specimen pictured below. All are still pretty young. I think the mature L. ramsayi pictured above are a good representation of what those will grow into - not sure how long that will take though.

One of the things that will compound your confusion, is that petiole length and width of leaf will vary with the degree of shade/sun. In my experience, this is pretty common with a lot of the licualas.

L. distans lower right

L. ramsayi on hillside

L. lauterbachii var bouganvillense

gmp

[LilikoiLee]

Lee, if you guys have a spare mo, why not use the new Saddle road and have a visit. There are a number of Licualas here, only a few labelled and some cryptically. Maybe between you and mike, me and Larissa, a book or two, and something cool in a glass and we might just figure out what's what...

Thank you very much for the invitation. That would be both helpful and fun! We happen to be coming over tomorrow. If that's not good for you and Larissa we'll come when it's more convenient. My cell phone number is 756-7883.

Lee

[LilikoiLee]

Licuala distans DSCN7466.JPG Licuala distans shortly after planting August 2013

Licuala lauterbachii DSCN7510.JPG Licuala lauterbachii planted April 2009, shown August 2013

Licuala ramsayii DSCN8008.JPG Licuala ramsayii planted June 2009, shown October 2013

Lee, I obviously haven't had these plants long enough to really comment on their growth rates or mature sizes so would be interested in comparisons also.

Aloha Cindy,

I love 'keiki' Licuala; they look so precious. I assume the ones in the pics are in Puerto Rico. If they are I'd like to know what size they were when you planted them and how long ago you did so. We just got some 2" and 4" from Floribunda so the background on yours will be very helpful.

Thanks,

Lee

[LilikoiLee]

Licuala distans DSCN7466.JPG Licuala distans shortly after planting August 2013

Licuala lauterbachii DSCN7510.JPG Licuala lauterbachii planted April 2009, shown August 2013

Licuala ramsayii DSCN8008.JPG Licuala ramsayii planted June 2009, shown October 2013

Lee, I obviously haven't had these plants long enough to really comment on their growth rates or mature sizes so would be interested in comparisons also.

Thank you Cindy.

[LilikoiLee]

Lee,

Both are among the larger and taller Licualas. I had pics of lauterbachii at the banquet, but no one could see anything because we didn't have a proper screen. Here are the pics I used, one from Rarepalmseeds, the other my own picture at Nong Nooch:

lauterbachii_habit.jpg lauterbachii_NN.jpg

Thanks Mike!

L. distans has huge leaves. Check out the photos in Palms of Thailand (Hodel's book).

[edric]

Aloha Lee

I think Palmpedia has some good pics and info:

Licuala distans

Licuala lauterbachii

gmp

Aloha Dr. G,

Thanks for the reply. Palmpedia has become one of our two favorite information resources. However, in this case we found the information posted by the person (sorry I don't remember his name or location) about the lauterbachii a bit confusing when he said the ramsayi and lauterbachii were almost identical and needed to be planted close to each other in order to distinguish the two species. Certainly not true from ours or other pictures we've seen.

The other thing that has been confusing me is whether when the width of the leaves is given that includes the length of the petiole; information that is essential, particularly when you're planting palms close together. Since you growing 99% of the plant's palm species I am quite certain you can help me with this question.

Lee

Hi Lee, Thanks for bringing the text error to light on the L. lauterbachii page, It should be more intelligible now. The mature specimen will never grow to heights that the L. ramsyi dose, and will not take quite as much full sun IMO. The L. distans is about half its size of the L. lauterbachii at maturity, and will need somewhat filtered light for the duration of its life, to maintain its red color in its petioles, Ed

[LilikoiLee]

Aloha Lee

I think Palmpedia has some good pics and info:

Licuala distans

Licuala lauterbachii

gmp

Aloha Dr. G,

Thanks for the reply. Palmpedia has become one of our two favorite information resources. However, in this case we found the information posted by the person (sorry I don't remember his name or location) about the lauterbachii a bit confusing when he said the ramsayi and lauterbachii were almost identical and needed to be planted close to each other in order to distinguish the two species. Certainly not true from ours or other pictures we've seen.

The other thing that has been confusing me is whether when the width of the leaves is given that includes the length of the petiole; information that is essential, particularly when you're planting palms close together. Since you growing 99% of the plant's palm species I am quite certain you can help me with this question.

Lee

Hi Lee, Thanks for bringing the text error to light on the L. lauterbachii page, It should be more intelligible now. The mature specimen will never grow to heights that the L. ramsyi dose, and will not take quite as much full sun IMO. The L. distans is about half its size of the L. lauterbachii at maturity, and will need somewhat filtered light for the duration of its life, to maintain its red color in its petioles, Ed

Edric, I really appreciate your help. That was exactly the information I needed. Thanks also for all the work you do to make PalmPedia such a valuable resource.

Lee

[pop]

Here is my L.distans.

[AlekLO]

She's beautiful ... I simply can not find licualu

[edric]

Here is my L.distans.

Hi Pop, that's an outstanding photo, do you suppose you could provide a larger image of that photo for Palmpedia? Thanks, Ed

[pop]

Ok. Sorry for poor quality.