Carpoxylon macrospermum is a species of palm endemic to the lowland rainforests in the southernmost parts of the Vanuatu archipelago: the islands of Tanna, Futuna and Anatom. Natural stands are very rare; they are more commonly found planted near dwellings or small holdings. This tree is considered “Critically Endangered” according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened […] Read More
Featured Palm: Hydriastele microspadix
The Hydriastele microspadix is a slender, clumping palm endemic to New Guinea that produces a compact crown of short leaves with clustered, somewhat fishtail-shaped leaflets. This species belongs to the genus Hydriastele, a diverse and widespread genus of flowering plant in the palm family found throughout Australia and New Zealand, Melanesia, Polynesia, and Southeast Asia. It is named in Greek, combining the name “hydriad”, a water nymph in mythology, and the word for “column”. The […] Read More
Featured Palm: Pritchardia tahuatana
This week’s featured Pritchardia palm is not present in Merwin’s garden, but it was recently discovered in the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia, so we wanted to feature it. Pritchardia frequently occurs in spectacular fashion, especially in the Hawaiian Islands, where they tenaciously cling to steep-sided or vertical cliffs several thousand meters high on all […] Read More
