Montgomery Palm, Arecina Palm

Veitchia arecina Becc. Webbia, v. 78 1921.

VEETCH-ee-ah  err-ah-SEEN-ah

Arecaceae

Explanation of name: The genus name commemorates British nurserymen James and John Veitch (JON). Arecina means “resembling an Areca.” (JON). The specific epithet montgomeryana honors Col. R. H. Montgomery, friend of David Fairchild.

Synonymy: Many references treat V. arecina as a species distinct from Veitchia montgomeryana H. E. Moore, Gentes Herb. 8: 492. 1957. We conform with recent authorities, especially FAI, in merging the two; the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature requires adoption of the older name.  Also placed in synonymy is Veitchia macdanielsii. See http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Veitchia/macdanielsii.html.  Materials put forth by Fairchild Tropical Garden agree.

Natural range: Vanuatu (ELL, MEE)

Recognition: Montgomery Palm is one of the tall, slender, single-trunked, pinnate-leaved palms that can be challenging to differentiate. Like other species of Veitchia, its leaflet tips are not squared off broadly (as in the locally cultivated Ptychosperma species), and they do not taper to a sharp point as in Carpenteria, Howea, Archontophoenix, and others. In veitchias, the leaflet tips taper almost to a point but look like they were torn off just basal to the tip. Veitchia crownshafts are usually blue-waxy and often have dark- (or less often light-) colored scales toward the tops. Veitchia arecina differs from other locally cultivated veitchias subtly as outlined below (including data from JON, MEE):

A. Leaflets < 70, with dense white scales beneath, droopy; scales on crownshaft black …V. macdanielsii (Sunshine Palm, rising to 50’ tall. Listed by MAI as one of 10 Great Palms for Florida)  Probably best regarded as a synonym of V. arecina http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Veitchia/macdanielsii.html

A. Leaflets >90, without dense white scales beneath, perky or droopy; scales on crownshaft dark brown to lighter-toned…B

B. Some leaves angled downward (below horizontal) with droopy leaflets; scales on petiole and at top of crownshaft light-colored…V. joannis (Joannis Palm, can grow 90’ tall)

B. Leaves held horizontally and/or at upright angles with perky leaflets; scales on petioles and at top of crownshaft dark-colored…C

C. Petioles gray-green…V. arecina (including V. montgomeryana, V. macdanielsii) (Montgomery Palm, landscape staple in South Florida)

C. Petioles covered with dark-colored scales (scales on crownshaft may be white)…V. winin (Winin Palm, unusual)

Landscape uses: This has probably become the most-used Veitchia (excluding Adonidia) in South Florida. It is fast-growing, modest-sized, and useful to complement buildings or to place in clusters. Montgomery Palm is slightly susceptible to Lethal Yellowing (MEE), though FAI seems to downplay this concern. Germination in 2-3 months with bottom heat (ELL).

Additional note: Rare in its natural habitat due to harvesting for its edible heart (JON).