Back to Tokyo's Hachijo Island

[JT in Japan]

It’s been a couple years since I was last at my favourite Japanese Palm Island, Hachijo (see original thread here: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/39566-welcome-to-roebelenii-island/

So I was kind of thrilled to get down there again on a palm shopping trip. Even though this island is under the political umbrella of Tokyo, it’s soundly in a sub-tropical band that gives it warmer winters, lot’s of year-round warm rain, and plenty of sun… which all means it’s a greenhouse for some great palms. And it’s only a 40-minute flight away.

[JT in Japan]

So what did I buy? Well, I got a little crazy: I bought a shipping container’s worth: 69 plants. That's two-and-a-half kiddie trucks.

Through a new grower (he’s over 70 years old, but he’s new to me) named Muroguchi-san, I was able to find and buy Livistona Chinensis, Syagrus Weddellianum, Howea Belmorea, Butia Odorata (I think), and Rhapis of some sort. 

 

Edited November 3, 2015 by JT in Japan

[JT in Japan]

Here are some of the plant pics.

Howea Belmoriana (?)

Livistona Chinensis (a little too much sun this past season has left it limey green; more shade with darken it up)

 

Edited November 3, 2015 by JT in Japan

[JT in Japan]

Rhapis excelsa (?)

Butia Catariansis (?)

[JT in Japan]

And finally Syagrus Weddellianum, which they call Princess Butia in Japanese (hime cocosu).

 

[JT in Japan]

Here's the lot of them at my place, essentially in storage till I figure out how to sell them, or where to plant them. There's a business plan somewhere, but it's still very much a WIP.

 

[JT in Japan]

Could someone ID this one for me? It has the multiple stocks of a rhapis, but pinnate leaves. I haven't a clue. 

[gyuseppe]

Could someone ID this one for me? It has the multiple stocks of a rhapis, but pinnate leaves. I haven't a clue. 

is chamaedorea seifrizi

while Rhapis not seem excelsa

[Phoenikakias]

I am much impressed that japanese nurseries use the longilinear WHITE pots. It means that at times those plants grow not only outside a greenhouse (I see in the pictures only a shadehouse) but also completely exposed.

[Pal Meir]

The Howea is H. forsteriana, the Rhapis is R. subtilis, the other palm is Chamaedorea seifrizii (as Giuseppe wrote). Butia catarinensis may be correct: http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Butia_catarinensis  – Livistona chinensis can withstand full sun, the reason for yellowing may be another. – Try to keep all the Syagrus weddelliana and make a lot of seeds which you can sell to all the palm lovers who can then grow up their own "Princess Cocos" from seed!

[Jeff Searle]

The Howea is H. forsteriana, the Rhapis is R. subtilis, the other palm is Chamaedorea seifrizii (as Giuseppe wrote). Butia catarinensis may be correct: http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Butia_catarinensis  – Livistona chinensis can withstand full sun, the reason for yellowing may be another. – Try to keep all the Syagrus weddelliana and make a lot of seeds which you can sell to all the palm lovers who can then grow up their own "Princess Cocos" from seed!

H

The Howea is H. forsteriana, the Rhapis is R. subtilis, the other palm is Chamaedorea seifrizii (as Giuseppe wrote). Butia catarinensis may be correct: http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Butia_catarinensis  – Livistona chinensis can withstand full sun, the reason for yellowing may be another. – Try to keep all the Syagrus weddelliana and make a lot of seeds which you can sell to all the palm lovers who can then grow up their own "Princess Cocos" from seed!

How can you be sure it's R. subtilis?

The Howea is H. forsteriana, the Rhapis is R. subtilis, the other palm is Chamaedorea seifrizii (as Giuseppe wrote). Butia catarinensis may be correct: http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Butia_catarinensis  – Livistona chinensis can withstand full sun, the reason for yellowing may be another. – Try to keep all the Syagrus weddelliana and make a lot of seeds which you can sell to all the palm lovers who can then grow up their own "Princess Cocos" from seed!

The Howea is H. forsteriana, the Rhapis is R. subtilis, the other palm is Chamaedorea seifrizii (as Giuseppe wrote). Butia catarinensis may be correct: http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Butia_catarinensis  – Livistona chinensis can withstand full sun, the reason for yellowing may be another. – Try to keep all the Syagrus weddelliana and make a lot of seeds which you can sell to all the palm lovers who can then grow up their own "Princess Cocos" from seed!

How can you be sure it's

[Pal Meir]

 

The Howea is H. forsteriana, the Rhapis is R. subtilis, the other palm is Chamaedorea seifrizii (as Giuseppe wrote). Butia catarinensis may be correct: http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Butia_catarinensis  – Livistona chinensis can withstand full sun, the reason for yellowing may be another. – Try to keep all the Syagrus weddelliana and make a lot of seeds which you can sell to all the palm lovers who can then grow up their own "Princess Cocos" from seed!

How can you be sure it's R. subtilis?

Oh, you are right: The apices are jagged, so the label Rhapis excelsa may be correct.

[Pal Meir]

Further the leaflets of the Rhapis have not split to the base, so it wouldn’t be R. subtilis but siamensis (if the apices were pointed). But this is also characteristic of R. excelsa. – I had to take a closer look to the photos before posting my guess.

[Darold Petty]

I concur with the identification as Howea forsteriana. 

[JT in Japan]

The Howea is H. forsteriana, the Rhapis is R. subtilis, the other palm is Chamaedorea seifrizii (as Giuseppe wrote). Butia catarinensis may be correct: http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Butia_catarinensis  – Livistona chinensis can withstand full sun, the reason for yellowing may be another. – Try to keep all the Syagrus weddelliana and make a lot of seeds which you can sell to all the palm lovers who can then grow up their own "Princess Cocos" from seed!

Pal, I learned that the downward-facing fronds were Belmoreana, and the upward-facing fronds were Forsteriana. Is this wrong? If you look at the first post, second photo, are those all Forsteriana also?

JT

[JT in Japan]

I am much impressed that japanese nurseries use the longilinear WHITE pots. It means that at times those plants grow not only outside a greenhouse (I see in the pictures only a shadehouse) but also completely exposed.

Those white pots are ubiquitous in Japan, Phoenikakias. I never see black pots. But some of the nurseries use them even when the plants are kept under shade cloth their whole life. 

JT 

[Alberto]

Nice collection! If you can grow Howeas you can grow so many other palms! Other Litocaryum (Syagrus) species like L, insigne, L. hoehnei. Probably Ceroxylon sp, a lot of Chamaedorea species..... etc

[JT in Japan]

Could someone ID this one for me? It has the multiple stocks of a rhapis, but pinnate leaves. I haven't a clue. 

is chamaedorea seifrizi

thanks Gyuseppe, that's a pretty palm. I'll try to pick it up next trip.

[Darold Petty]

JT,  you have the frond attachment angle reversed.  H. forsteriana has the flat,downward leaflets, and H. belmoreana the upward, 'V' section attachment.  This is not so pronounced on juvenile palms.  I can take a photo of H. belmoreana tomorrow, both juvenile and adult.  

[Pal Meir]

The Howea is H. forsteriana, the Rhapis is R. subtilis, the other palm is Chamaedorea seifrizii (as Giuseppe wrote). Butia catarinensis may be correct: http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Butia_catarinensis  – Livistona chinensis can withstand full sun, the reason for yellowing may be another. – Try to keep all the Syagrus weddelliana and make a lot of seeds which you can sell to all the palm lovers who can then grow up their own "Princess Cocos" from seed!

Pal, I learned that the downward-facing fronds were Belmoreana, and the upward-facing fronds were Forsteriana. Is this wrong? If you look at the first post, second photo, are those all Forsteriana also?

JT

1st post 2nd photo: Do you mean the tall palms? Yes, they are H. forsteriana too. Here some infos on Palmpedia:

http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Howea_belmoreana

http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Howea_forsteriana

[JT in Japan]

 Livistona chinensis can withstand full sun, the reason for yellowing may be another. 

Do you think it may be lacking in some nutrient, Pal? It's likely been in the same pot for several years now. I've got over 20 of them; should I be planning on a re-potting party to get them better nutrition?

JT

[JT in Japan]

JT,  you have the frond attachment angle reversed.  H. forsteriana has the flat,downward leaflets, and H. belmoreana the upward, 'V' section attachment.  This is not so pronounced on juvenile palms.  I can take a photo of H. belmoreana tomorrow, both juvenile and adult.  

Quite right, Darold. I was bass-ackwards.

And now, onward, upward, ho!

jt

[Pal Meir]

 Livistona chinensis can withstand full sun, the reason for yellowing may be another. 

Do you think it may be lacking in some nutrient, Pal? It's likely been in the same pot for several years now. I've got over 20 of them; should I be planning on a re-potting party to get them better nutrition?

JT

I would leave them in the old pots, but give them some fert and lots of water. – I have checked the 1st post 2nd pic once more: It seems that there could be also a H. belmoreana a little hidden on the left side (pink encircled):