Archontophoenix maxima

[Pivi]

Hi all!

I've open topic about seeds i got from KPR here http://palmtalk.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboar...t=ST;f=3;t=8782

Forum members are telling me that the seeds i got from KPR (czech republic, http://en.kpr.sk/palms.php ) are not archontophoenix maxima seeds. What do you think?

[MattyB]

I think they're A. maxima w/ the fiber cleaned off.

[Pivi]

is it possible that these are 20 days old seed?

Who would be able to clean seeds like this in large quantities?

KPR claims that the seeds they sent me (on the picture) are 20 days old.

[MattyB]

A. tuckeri seeds.  Pic taken from PACSOA.  They look like yours to me, just a little fiberier.  I too wonder how and why they would have cleaned them so good.  Surely someone else will recognize these seeds.  There are many experts here who've pulled out some pretty amazing I.d.'s for me in the past.

[Pivi]

I think they are "cleaned" so well because they are old and the friut dried out and fell off.

I will repeat that KPR claims that seeds are 20 days old.

In 40 days none have germinate and i think none will.

They look old to me.

I also got seeds from ortanique and europalms that seem much more fresh (purpurea, cunnighamiana and alexandrae).

ps. i think this tuckeri seeds have one more thinh fruit shell beneath those fibres...and then there is seed while my "maxima" seeds are cleaned to the end...weird...

[Caryota_gigas]

I have sprouted them from RPS in less than 2 weeks, I think yours are a little over handled

[Pivi]

That's why i say that these seeds are old... waaaay old.

He didn't have the "new" tag on maxima seeds since august.

I'm watching his site regulary since then.

And he claims seeds are fresh, harvested in October this year...yeah wright  :laugh:

Even all fibres fell of due to seed being dry and old.

And he keeps telling me on email seeds are fresh.

I'm gonna send him an email these days when i receive fresh maxima seeds from australia.

Beware

[MattyB]

First of all:  do they sink or float? If they float then they're bad.

I understand your suspicions Pivi.  But I like to give people the benefit of the doubt first.  You should wait a year and see if they sprout before you pass judgment so quickly.  40 days isn't really that long.  I've collected fresh Archontophoenix seed straight off of the tree and they didn't germinate for more than 6 months.  And that was in a greenhouse.  Once they did finally germinate I got almost 100% germ rate all at the same time.  Just put the company on notice of your suspicions and document everything now and then after a year.  Just my suggestion.  Either way, good luck.

[Pivi]

My suspicions are these:

-seeds do look old to me

-they are way too cleaned for being only 20 days old...how much time did they spent just cleaning them? My suspicion is that it dried out and fell off.

-i'm watching kpr site regulary since august and since then they didn't have the "new tag" on their maxima seeds

-they should germintate quite fast... i'll let you know in a month or two if something happens...but i'm sure it wont...they look to me they dried off.

These days i'll get fresh maxima seeds from Australia and i'll also let you know about how they'll do.

[Caryota_gigas]

Do they sink immediately when put in water? I would soak them for a week if they look old, then put them down. A bit late now though I suppose.

[Pivi]

they did sink...few were floating.

[Caryota_gigas]

Here is a pic I found of my last batch of A.maxima

[Caryota_gigas]

I had 22 seed and they all sprouted like weeds.

[Pivi]

Yes...your look much better and more fresh...

Mine are old... i can guarantee that.

[madagascarbob]

(Caryota_gigas @ Dec. 04 2007,16:54)

QUOTE

Here is a pic I found of my last batch of A.maxima

Were they smaller than normal kings ?

[Davidl]

I would soak them for a week too. I have had them germinate in the water after a week or so. It might be your only hope at this point. They really should have germinated in a few weeks to a month.

[Pivi]

I just got new seeds of archontophoenix maxima directly from australia. We'll see how are these gonna do...

[Gaston in Argentina]

Those seeds look like Archonto alexandrae

but i dont remember if the A. maxima nuts were simmilar.-

[Pivi]

these are alexandrae seeds

[Pivi]

My maxima seeds from australia (picture above: post number 17) started germinating after 8 days....that's good and fresh!

Czech republic seeds (kpr) still didn't make a move, and i'm sure they won't... so you see...

::

Australian seeds (from ebay)

[MattyB]

Congratulations on your new baby.

[Tyrone]

It's almost impossible to compare Archo's based on seed shape size etc(except for purpurea, it's huge). I've seen alexandrae seed look more like bangalow seed, and then further north look more like the oblong form of maxima seed. Those seeds that came from Oz labeled as maxima look exactly like what I have received in the past as maxima. If you want to go on generalisations, generally bangalow seed is round with thick flat fibres and generally alexandrae seed is smaller with thin fibres and is oblong in shape. Depending on the growing conditions and obviously genetics, the seed size can vary a lot. A myolensis, tuckeri, and maxima are harder to tell apart from each other, though size is reportedly different, but again that depends on growing conditions.

regards

Tyrone

[Pivi]

Thanks MattyB... I almost didn't recognize that monkey in you...  

Tyrone, thanks for comment  ::