Tillering... why do some do it more than others?

[Tracy]

Tillering palms... ever wonder why some specimens in this category do it more than others?  I have two Dypsis ambositrae that I planted not to long apart.  One had some saxophone type growth, but then put most of its energy into growing vertically.  The one posted has continued it's sideways tillering with saxophone growth.  the leaf bases come off on one side just at the soil line, while the other side of the leaf base comes off submerged.  I scraped away the soil in the close up of the trunk on the submerged side.  

I have seen this same tillering with no growth above the ground with the Hedyscepe canterburyanas that I have grown (4 or 5 with only 2 alive today).  This is one of the two Hedyscepe which is still tillering with no trunk today, photographed back in 2009 for size perspective.  So 12 years from this photo of slowly tillering away there is still no upward push on this Hedyscepe.  Its a curiosity for which I have no answers as to why some specimens do it while others don't within the same species and even when planted in the same yard.  There is a planter immediately above this specimen with three healthy Howea belmoreana that were planted a couple of years prior (mid 2000's era) and they have done great, so it's not that there is a cultural problem for growing Lord Howe Island palms in the soil or or spot.

Anyone else with a Tillering or Saxophone story to share?

[PalmatierMeg]

Genetics probably plays a big part. If a growing palm's roots hit an underground object (boulder, shell rock?) it might have to adjust its tillering habit.

[Brett in Mission Viejo]

Interesting topic-I have also noted inconsistencies in how long it takes a tillering palm to start growing vertically. Maybe they tiller and move sideways until they feel the roots are securely attached to something, then they stop tillering and grow vertically. Maybe in their natural habitat the seeds germinate in loose forest organic matter and then they tiller down and move sideways to find something secure to root into. When we plant them in the ground, even if it is relatively firm and secure, they genetically react and start tillering and moving sideways. My Dypsis Oropedionis did the tillering thing for years pulling itself and the growing point way into the ground. I contemplated transplanting it at one point just to raise it up to what I thought was proper, but was afraid I would loose it to transplant shock/root disturbance. I eventually dug a bowl around the growing point to keep the growing point dry to avoid rot. Now that it is larger, the low growing point appears to be less of an issue.

[joe_OC]

Of my 5 Hedyscepe, the 2nd oldest and slowest palm palm is tillering.  My other 4 are growing more upright.  The 3 newer ones are catching up to it rather quickly.

 

[Tracy]

On 6/3/2021 at 4:38 PM, joe_OC said:

Of my 5 Hedyscepe, the 2nd oldest and slowest palm palm is tillering.  My other 4 are growing more upright.  The 3 newer ones are catching up to it rather quickly.

 

Which is part of what is interesting about this question.  It isn't limited to certain species, but actually goes down to particular plants within the species that continue their saxophone style growth while other specimens in that species don't.

 

On 6/3/2021 at 10:02 AM, PalmatierMeg said:

Genetics probably plays a big part. If a growing palm's roots hit an underground object (boulder, shell rock?) it might have to adjust its tillering habit.

The hitting obstruction concept is an interesting thought which may be accurate in some cases.  In my case it isn't as likely due to the soil types both here in Leucadia (sandy with no rocks) where my pair of D ambositrate are growing and in Carlsbad (clay with no rock) where my tillering Hedyscepe are growing.  You are right about the genetics portion, certain genera and/or species within a genera are prone to this type growth and its the exception plant that doesn't tiller.

[Tracy]

On 6/2/2021 at 10:36 AM, Tracy said:

The one posted has continued it's sideways tillering with saxophone growth.  the leaf bases come off on one side just at the soil line, while the other side of the leaf base comes off submerged.  I scraped away the soil in the close up of the trunk on the submerged side.  

I dumped some water on the tillering base which exposed it below all the mulch and bark that was on it, which prompted me to think of this thread again.  This is the tillering Dypsis ambositrae, as opposed to the other one which has grown upright and has a few rings of trunk now even though they are similar in age and size at planting.  First photo is the trunk, followed by the deep side attachment.  The last two are of the tillering base, showing the top side rings close together.  This ringed base that has pushed sideways is about 4" now.  

So in the prior feedback, there was speculation as to why some plants do it.  I'm curious if anyone else has seen this with this specifically with Dypsis ambrositrae

[Tracy]

1 hour ago, Tracy said:

I'm curious if anyone else has seen this with this specifically with Dypsis ambrositrae

I guess I should have looked on Palmpedia.  The last line under Comments and Curiosities for this palm reads:

This is a tillering palm, it exhibits saxophone style root growth (it has a heel), keep top third of heel above soil elevation!

[palmfriend]

Hi,

my ones are still very young - not even planted out - but all three of them showing the same "behavior":

Hydriastele ramsayi

(I can assure you it is not because of their position to the light's source.)

It looks marginal at first, but...

It didn't matter how often I turned them around, they are rock solid in their pots.

However, as long as they look healthy I am not concerned.

 

Lars