Ptychosperma OR Veitchia ? ID

[PalmatierMeg]

I posted photos of these four seedlings a couple months but I'm still not sure what I have. I got seeds of these palms from Australia back in 2019 and the seller IDed them as "Ptychosperma unknown species" with large leaves and large seeds. When I say "large seeds" I do it with Ptychospermas in mind. I can't remember exactly what the seeds looked like except they were elongated and approx. 3/4" to 1" long and 1/3" to 1/2" wide. One PTer suggested they might be Veitchias. My seeds source seemed knowledgable enough to tell the difference between Ptychospermas and Veitchias, but who can say if he was? I took photos of the largest palm. Notice it has black speckling and a lot of tomentum but is that a shared trait of Ptychos and Veitchias? Seedlings are robust and fast growing. They sailed through my winter carefree and without protection.

Ptychosperma or Veitchia?

[Frond-friend42]

My V. winins at a similar age look like that enough that I think they could be some kind of Veitchia. I do have the impression that veitchias and ptycho's are similar (feel free to disabuse me of that). Here are some pics (warning: they have seen healthier days) for comparison:

 

[kinzyjr]

Just doing a comparison of the seedlings I have available, my bet would have to go on Veitchia.  For a comparison:

Veitchia arecina (seed on top of soil for comparison)

Ptychosperma elegans

[palmsOrl]

I concur.  Those look like young Veitchia.

[Palmarum]

Just now, PalmatierMeg said:

I posted photos of these four seedlings a couple months but I'm still not sure what I have. I got seeds of these palms from Australia back in 2019 and the seller IDed them as "Ptychosperma unknown species" with large leaves and large seeds. When I say "large seeds" I do it with Ptychospermas in mind. I can't remember exactly what the seeds looked like except they were elongated and approx. 3/4" to 1" long and 1/3" to 1/2" wide. One PTer suggested they might be Veitchias. My seeds source seemed knowledgable enough to tell the difference between Ptychospermas and Veitchias, but who can say if he was? I took photos of the largest palm. Notice it has black speckling and a lot of tomentum but is that a shared trait of Ptychos and Veitchias? Seedlings are robust and fast growing. They sailed through my winter carefree and without protection.

Ptychosperma or Veitchia?

Hmm. They could be one of the small to moderate Veitchia species that has large seed, like V. filifera (old V. sessilifolia) or the similar V. vitiensis (both species used to be in Ptychosperma). Did the seller happen to tell you where they originated, if they came from the wild? If they came from Fiji or Vanuatu then you could narrow it down some.

Two other smaller Veitchia species from Vanuatu, V. metiti and V. spiralis have entered cultivation in the last five years and might be possible identities. Not sure about the sizes on their seed, but they have to be close to the range you specified.

If they grow fast and start producing a thin, solitary stem (while still in a small pot) with that black speckling then it could easily be one of the smaller Veitchia species.

Ryan

[palmfriend]

Hi,

here are two, three images of my Veitchias, it might be helpful to narrow it in.

all three": Veitchia spiralis

here: Veitchia metiti

I would tend to the Veitchia species, too but since I never got a hand at Ptychosperma seeds (and 

seedlings) I am of course not really sure. However, I hope it helped a bit.

Lars