Dypsis mahajanga

[RainForestt Robert]

Can someone tell me if D. mahajanga is a clustering or solitary species.  I noticed one of my seedlings had what appeared to be the start of a new stem.

How tall can I expect this palm to grow under tropical conditions?  Anyone has a photo to share?

Robert

[Al in Kona]

Bob, I have heard it said that they are usually clumping but occasionally there can be a single form as well.  I do not know how tall they can eventually grow either.  Hopefully someone can enlighten both of us on that point.  I have one (clumping form) of Dypsis 'Mahajanga' growing in the garden.  It is just outside the dinning room window and that was the easiest way to snap a picture of it - thru the window.  Here it is . . .

[Walter John]

It clusters or clumps Robert and I've come so close to getting one of these. Can't seem to find the right size for sale. I'd rather try a smallish plant but can't find any around.

[RainForestt Robert]

Thanks Al.  What does Floribunda say?  A real landscaping beauty!

[Walter John]

Dear Al

This palm look the same to you ? Dyspis mahajanga ?

[bgl]

Sorry to ruin the party, but as far as I know this is simply a Dypsis madagascariensis (possibly a somewhat different variety, but still...). And there's no reference whatsoever to the mahajanga name on Kew's site. That's not good news for those who think this is a valid species...

[Al in Kona]

Here's looking up at the crown .  I'm estimating the tree is now about 5.5-6m (18'-20') tall.

[bgl]

I think Al, Wal and I were all posting at more or less the same time just now.

Al, that sure looks like a D. madagascariensis to me. And I also have (what was sold to me as) Dypsis mahajanga (bought a 15G from Hawaii Palm Company a number of years ago and some smaller ones from Floribunda) and I couldn't tell the difference between those and a D. madagascariensis if my life depended on it....

Bo-Göran

[Dypsisdean]

Bo,

I can remember having this conversation with you in the past. If I remember correctly, we believed the old D. lucubensis to also be this same palm. And further, didn't we also agree that palms sold as D. 'Diego' and D. ankaizanensis were probably the same as well?

[Al in Kona]

Wal, hard to tell by your pic if it is the same or not but it sure looks similar to what I have and what we are calling Dypsis 'Mahajanga' - apparently another invalid name which we use so that we know what we are talking about.  I have a Dypsis madagascariensis var. lucubensis (probably incorrect name too) growing in the garden and it does look similar but not exactly the same as what we are calling  'Mahajanga.  It has a much heavier single trunk.

Actually I don't care what it's called as long as we have a name to identify what form, or variety we are talking about.

[bgl]

Dean,

Forgot about the 'diego' but I'm sure you're correct. But the palm that was sold as Dypsis ankaizinensis is indeed believed to be D. madagascariensis. It's important to keep in mind that D. ankaizinensis is a valid name, it's just not the palm that was sold under this name in the late 90s.

And Al, as far as the so-called lucubensis goes, I think it makes sense that a single-trunked specimen of any palm species will be more robust than its multi-trunked siblings.

Bo-Göran

[Dave Butler]

I did a little checking and there is such a palm Dypsis mahajanga. This is the photo found on line named after a small town in Madagascar.

[DoomsDave]

(Wal @ Jul. 28 2006,17:32)

QUOTE

It clusters or clumps Robert and I've come so close to getting one of these. Can't seem to find the right size for sale. I'd rather try a smallish plant but can't find any around.

Kapoho and Floridbunda almost always have some.

I got mine from there.  Small, a bit slow, but worth the wait . . .

dave

[cfkingfish]

Mahajanga is on the North-Northwest coast of Madagascar, adjacent to Nosy Be, the wild habitat of D. madagascariensis. Many places sell D. "Mahajanga" as D. madagascariensis var. "Mahajanga". I have noticed a bit of difference in the variety - Mahajanga seems to have a stiffer leaflet than the floppier and almost curly D. madagascariensis. Petiole length also seems shorter on the Mahajangas - this is just what I have observed from my plants, Malagasy plants like to morph every which way!

[Jeff Searle]

Hello guys,

IMO, if I was a betting guy(which I am not) I stand to believe that D.masagascariensis and D,sp. Mahajanga are the same, "two peas in a pod".

[Walter John]

So "lucubensis" would be the solitary version and "mahajanga" the clumping version of Dypsis madagascariensis.

Quick, somebody write that down and email to every palm society and palm nursery and palm farm on the planet before we forget. It's that easy.

[Eric in Orlando]

Dypsis "Mahajanga" is just a form of D. madagascariensis. It seems to have a more plumose leaf than the "regular" form. Here at Leu Gardens it also has been more cold hardy. We have a clump of D. "Mahajanga" and D. madagascariensis. Twice when we have dropped into the upper 20s in the last 10 years, the D. "Mahajanga" wasn't really bothered while D. madagascariensis was burned and they are only about 25 ft apart.

[Robert Lee Riffle]

Bo, this party's turning into a real bumpy ride.  Take another look at the Kew Monocot Checklist and click on

Dypsis madagascariensis!!!!

[Zac in NC]

Ok Whats goin on

Are you sh!tting me? Areca? Please tell me I am misreading this.

Ok I see that this species hasn't been placed now? Interesting, very interesting.

Zac

[bgl]

Bob,

I think we may need professional help just about now!

Bo-Göran

[Walter John]

(Robert Lee Riffle @ Jul. 29 2006,18:50)

QUOTE

Bo, this party's turning into a real bumpy ride.  Take another look at the Kew Monocot Checklist and click on

Dypsis madagascariensis!!!!

What does this mean RLR ? Two entries, one more recent, which says unplaced. Unplaced ? I wonder if there's some others like this.

[DoomsDave]

Yeah, Shoil', this guy got on my nerves, so I kicked him in the mahajangas . . .

[Robert Lee Riffle]

Bo, I definitely agree.  We need the good Dr.  Dransfield to come in and tell us what the entity we now refer to as D. madagascariensis should be called now.

And, Wal: I'm not completely sure just what "unplaced name" means.  Only thing I can think of might be that the binomial was applied to a palm that was not formally described; but that might more "properly" be a misplaced name.

Did I mention that I don't know?!?

[Redland]

Dypsis Madagascariensis 'Mahajanga' is the nomenclature I have been using. I agree with Eric, it is a form of D. madagascariensis. It does have more plumose leaf than the "regular" form. It is more cold tolerant, much smaller stature, slower growing, very graceful, both are clumping or solitaire.

"Actually I don't care what it's called as long as we have a name to identify what form, or variety we are talking about."

I am in total agreement and until Scientist are in agreement on genus and species all we, growers, can do is name verities.

[cfkingfish]

Redland - are you John DeMott? If so, nice to see you here!

If not, nice to see a new person on the boards into palms nonetheless!  :cool:

[Jeff Searle]

It's the same palm....lets move on.

[Redland]

If it is the same palm I have big problems with my 35'+ non suckering Dypsis Madagascariensis when it comes to nomenclature.

Why must some palm and cycad people look at varities, and forms, of species with thier nose in the air? The bastardization of species is a reality. Selection by the growers and nomenclature are important.  

John DeMott

ps. Good to be seen. Thanks!

[Moose]

Was this debate on the palm I.D. ever resolved?

Moose

[peachy]

I did a little checking and there is such a palm Dypsis mahajanga. This is the photo found on line named after a small town in Madagascar.

This is the same photo that I saw when I bought my D. mahajanga. Mine is only tiny at the moment and I hope it stays a single otherwise onto the compost heap it goes.

Peachy

[LJG]

Roll the dice Peachy. Because I have seen solitary ones and suckering.

I have three singles. Why? Because I cut off the sucker on one of mine to make it single.

I did a little checking and there is such a palm Dypsis mahajanga. This is the photo found on line named after a small town in Madagascar.

This is the same photo that I saw when I bought my D. mahajanga. Mine is only tiny at the moment and I hope it stays a single otherwise onto the compost heap it goes.

Peachy

[paulgila]

why is a single so much more appealing?

[LJG]

They are harder to climb.

why is a single so much more appealing?

[paulgila]

that is the "huh?" emoticon,in case you dont recognize it...

[peachy]

why is a single so much more appealing?

With me its just a matter of taste and space. Clumpers take up so much room and are usually more work to keep tidy. There is not a clumper on earth (amongs the ones I do like) that wouldnt look better as a single. Just a single tree is so much more special to me than a big overwhelming clump that I am forever thinning out. I guess its like people who only buy paintings, lamps or tables etc, if they are in a set or a pair rather than having one special item on display.

Peachy

[brodklop]

Personally from observation and growing from seed I think there is a case for different species of this Dypsis.

Mt Cootha BG has a number of these growing and the differences are quite marked.

There is a case for 3 or more different forms or species but I will concentrate on 2 of them.

Firstly a group of palms labeled as Dypsis sp mahajanga. These have plumouse leaflets with droopy tips and bright deep green in colour.

The Trunks are large and bright green going grey with age. These produce seedlings with wideish leaves.

The second group of palms growing nearby in the same soil, mulch and full sun conditions have thin stiff leaflet that are bluish in colour and are not as ploumouse.

The trunks are whitish with green underneath and are narrower. I will call this one D. fine leaf for the sake of clarity.

Photo of D.mahajanga green thick trunk and green droopy plumouse leaflets

[brodklop]

D. fine leaf with stiff narrow bluish leaflets and thinner whitish trunks

[brodklop]

close up of thin stiff leaflets of D' fine leaf

[brodklop]

close up of bright green droopy tipped D. mahajanga

[brodklop]

base of D. mahajanga with thick trunks

[brodklop]

base of D. fine leaf with whitish thinner trunks