Hurricane Palm, Princess Palm

Dictyosperma album (Bory) H. Wendl. & Drude ex Scheffer

dick-tee-oh-SPERM-ah  AL-bum

Arecaceae

Explanation of name: Dictyon is Greek for net, and sperma is Greek for seed (JON). Album means white.

Natural range: Mascarene Islands (RI2)

Native habitat: Coastal forests (RI2)

Recognition: Tall, single-trunked, pinnate-leaved, monoecious palm having the leaves twisted. Trunk dark-colored with closely spaced rings and vertical fissures; crownshaft covered with waxy scales (sometimes felty), leaflets with long-tapered tips; fruits purplish-black. The leaves frequently with long, dangling marginal reins. Similar to species of Archontophoenix, especially Piccabeen Palm (A. cunninghamiana) from which Hurricane Palm differs by having long-tapered leaflet tips as opposed to tips acute or tapered but with straight sides. See A. alexandrae for a key separating these confusing species. Variants listed in ELL are “var. album” (this including purple-crownshaft and and red variants), “var. aureum,” and “var. conjugatum.”

Landscape uses: A stately, single-trunked, mid-sized specimen palm that has come into extensive landscaping use. Irrigation recommended (FAI, JON, MEE). JON notes need for good drainage. Particularly unsightly when neglected (PBCC). ELL gives 2-3 months for germination.

Notes: Almost extinct in the wild (BA2, JON, MEE). The flowers are fragrant.