Ivory Cane Palm

Pinanga coronata (Blume ex Mart.) Blume

pin-ANG-gah  core-oh-NATE-ah

Arecaceae

Explanation of name: Generic name from Malaysian pinang, a palm. Coronata means crowned. Kuhlii commemorates Heinrich Kühl, a German botanist (JON).

Synonymy: Pinanga kuhlii Blume is often cognized as a separate species. JON describes the two as extremes along a spectrum of variants.

Natural range: Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi (JON). Rainforest understory (RI2)

Recognition: Clumping pinnate-leaved palms, with few leaves, these having 6-8 pairs of conspicuously ribbed leaflets with the tips cut off obliquely. The lower leaflets are slightly falcate (sickle-shaped). The leaves can be clustered on the top of the stem (“P. coronata”) or scattered along it (“P. kuhlii”). The slender stems are bamboo-like, green or yellowish with raised rings and often brownish crownshafts. The branches of the inflorescences look like red fingers with creamy-white flowers followed by red fruits, presenting when ripe an eye-catching red and black dangling necklace. Could be confused with Chamaedorea species, but those in South Florida have pointed and more numerous (or just one) leaflet pair(s). ELL suggests 2-3 months for germination.

Landscape uses: Mid-sized clumping palms for protected, shaded situations with irrigation. The young leaves emerge pinkish. Sometimes used in courtyards, atriums, and indoors.