The Actinokentia divaricata is a small understory palm, native to the wet forest slopes of New Caledonia.
These palms are noteworthy for their gracefully compact and symmetrical structure, with a narrow trunk that only holds a few fronds, and with recurved leaves like an elegant umbrella. One of the most notable features of this plant appears in the youngest leaves.
Newly emerging fronds are colored a bright, intense red, which is not commonly found in palms. The reddish crown shaft holds a sparse crown of pinnate leaves which are stunning dark red when unfolding. The ecological value of this phenomena is little studied, but it is suggested that this coloration is an adaptation that helps the plant to repel leaf-chewing insects.
The native habitat of Actinokentia divaricata is located in the low mountainous rainforest of southern and central mainland New Caledonia, on a barrier reef-surrounded island called Grand Terre, in Oceania.
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has declared this species as threatened on it’s Red List, even though it appears widespread in habitat.
There are two Actinokentia divaricata in the Merwin Palm Collection today – one juvenile, and one seedling.
Want to “virtually explore” the Merwin Palm Collection? Search through our archive of Palm Facts of the Week, featuring palms hand-planted by W.S Merwin. To search through the Online Merwin Palm Database, visit this link.
If you’re inspired to help The Merwin Conservancy preserve and care for the Merwin Palm Collection into the future, please consider making a tax-deductible donation.
The featured photo above can be found, along with many others of this species, on Palm Pedia.