Pritchardia viscosa

[John in Andalucia]

All I know about this species is what I've read on Palmpedia. These seeds arrived to me via a verified shipment from Hawaii to Florida.

How scarce are they in cultivation?

?

 

[quaman58]

Pretty scarce John. I know of a handful of seeding plants (in cultivation) that appear to be where most of these seedlings come from, most, if not all from Hawaii. There's a number of them growing here in California as well, but none that are yet flowering as far as I know. It seems to take longer to mature than other Pritchardias, at least 15 years from what I've been told, even in Hawaii. Because of it's rarity, even the folks with mature specimens are understandably hesitant to broadcast that fact. But they are one of the beautiful ones of the genus. Nice score. My experience with them is that they are a water lover, even by Pritchardia standards.

Edited September 26, 2019 by quaman58

[John in Andalucia]

Thanks Bret. Perhaps they'll eventually flourish in cultivation? IUCN listed as Critically Endangered in the wild, but then so too is Carpoxylon.

My two specimens will have to head for Kew in a few years, if they're interested.

[quaman58]

I think they'll do fine for you John. A greenhouse when they're small really accelerates things of course. They seem perfectly content with cultivation wherever I've seen them. Best of luck with them..

[Matt in OC]

Amazing to me how dark the wool is on these as a seedling. Pretty easy distinguishing characteristic from other Pritchardias I've grown from seed.

[realarch]

I'd say VERY scarce, and again, at least here in Hawaii, you don't broadcast the fact you are growing certain Pritchardia species.

They are stunning palms.

Tim

[Big Eye]

Nice looking duo! Hawaii is known as the endangered species capital of the world. Majority of our endemic plants are endangered/threatened and/or going extinct in the wild! It's sad to see.

[Hilo Jason]

Very nice to see these palms in your collection.  I wish they were in many more.  Hawaii should be encouraging these and other Pritchardia to be planted on the islands in private and public gardens.  Instead it seems like they prefer to do the opposite.  

[quaman58]

Rats are the bane of Loulu palms in Hawaii, almost certainly the biggest single direct factor for their decline. The large seeds are just too much to resist. Even here, I have to cover Loulu seeds at night to protect them from the occasional rat rampage. It may be a pipe dream, but being able to return some of the rarer species to their native range would be nice to be able to do. They're just in some awfully remote areas, so I'm not sure how realistic it is. P. viscosa appears to be down to 3 or 4 mature plants according to Don Hodel, and regeneration is near non existent, primarily because of rats.

[Darold Petty]

DEATH to rats.  I must completely enclose my Hedyscepe seeds in wire cages.  

[joe_OC]

41 minutes ago, Hilo Jason said:

Very nice to see these palms in your collection.  I wish they were in many more.  Hawaii should be encouraging these and other Pritchardia to be planted on the islands in private and public gardens.  Instead it seems like they prefer to do the opposite.  

Conservation needs to happen in habitat as well as private/public gardens.  These are not animals that will lose their wildness from being kept in captivity.  

[John in Andalucia]

27 minutes ago, joe_OC said:

Conservation needs to happen in habitat as well as private/public gardens.  These are not animals that will lose their wildness from being kept in captivity.  

I like that sentiment. I don't like zoos on principle, but for plants, a private garden /botanic garden can be a great source of regeneration. Assuming there are no rats of course!

[danx]

How big did these get in a few years? I have a few seedling on their 3rd set of leaves in 4months. They seem to be very fast growers. 

Also, do you keep them in shade/partial for Florida sun?

To an earlier point about conservation made above, the issue is they are critically endangered in the US, so extremely frowned upon to sell this especially out of Hawaii… most people who have it, do not advertise them for fear the gov will step in. 

It’s likely never to be a common plant unless they control those rats.