Bismarckia

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Bismarckia
B.nobilis.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Tribe: Borasseae
Genus: Bismarckia
Hildebr. & H.Wendl.
Species:
B. nobilis
Binomial name
Bismarckia nobilis
Bismarckia nobilis - MHNT Bismarckia nobilis MHNT.BOT.2017.10.15.jpg
Bismarckia nobilisMHNT

Bismarckia is a monotypic genus of flowering plant in the palm family with Bismarckia nobilis being the only species in the genus and is endemic to western and northern Madagascar, where it grows in open grassland. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Bismarckia nobilis is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. [6]

Etymology

The genus Bismarckia is named for the first chancellor of the German Empire Otto von Bismarck. The epithet (or species name) nobilis comes from Latin for 'noble'. [6]

In its native Madagascar, Bismarckia nobilis is known in Malagasy as satrana. [4]

Description

Foliage and young flowers Nobilisleaf-flower.JPG
Foliage and young flowers

Bismarckia nobilis grows from solitary trunks, gray to tan in color, which show ringed indentations from old leaf bases. Trunks are 30 to 45 cm in diameter, slightly bulging at the base, and free of leaf bases in all but its youngest parts. In their natural habitat they can reach above 25 meters in height but usually get no taller than 12 m in cultivation. The nearly rounded leaves are enormous in maturity, over 3 m wide, and are divided to a third its length into 20 or more stiff, once-folded segments, themselves split on the ends. The leaves are induplicate and costapalmate, producing a wedge-shaped hastula where the blade and petiole meet. Petioles are 2–3 m, slightly armed, and are covered in a white wax as well as cinnamon-colored caducous scales; the nearly-spherical leaf crown is 7.5 m wide and 6 m tall. These palms are dioecious and produce pendent, interfoliar inflorescences of small brown flowers which, in female plants, mature to a brown ovoid drupe, each containing a single seed. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Bismarckia is native to Madagascar, an island well known for its rich diversity of unique taxa and is home to a diverse flora. Whilst the genus Bismarckia is comprised of only the single species Bismarckia nobilis, Madagascar itself is home to around 170 species of native palms of which 165 are solely native to Madagascar). [7]

In Madagascar, Bismarckia nobilis grows at elevations between sea level and 800m across the plains and plateaus of the central highlands, nearly reaching the western and northern coasts, in savannas of low grass, usually in lateritic soil. [8] [9] As much of this land has been cleared with fire for agricultural use, Bismarckia nobilis, along with other fire-resistant trees like Ravenala madagascariensis and Uapaca bojeri , are the most conspicuous components of this arid region. [8]

Conservation

As of November 2024, the most recent International Union for Conservation (IUCN) Red List assessment was conducted in December 2010 and published in 2021, and Bismarckia nobilis was classified as a species of Least Concern. This assessment described the species as being widespread and common in its native range with mature individuals likely to exceed 10,000 plants; however, it was noted that the species is facing certain threats including a loss of habitat due to agricultural expansion, increasing frequency of fires, and mining activities in parts of its range. [9]

In its native range the leaves and the pith of the palm is sometimes eaten as food and the species is also exploited for its timber. [10] [9]

Cultivation

Bismarck palms are grown throughout the tropics and subtropics under favorable microclimates. They are grown in many parts of Indonesia, Australia, as well as in landscaping in the United Arab Emirates. In the United States, they are planted in several areas of Florida, a few areas of Southern California, southern and southeastern Texas, and southern Arizona. [11]

Taxonomically, Bismarckia is monotypic genus, with Bismarckia nobilis being the only species, with no recognized subspecies or taxonomic varieties. [4] [3] [5] In horticulture however, some growers recognize a difference between individuals based on leaf coloration, describing a more commonly grown 'silver variety' (or alternatively form or selection) and a 'green variety' with some growers claiming the green leaf variety is less hardy to cold. [6] [12] [13]

Bismarckia nobilis is considered to be highly tolerant of drought conditions but thrives in high rainfall areas and are moderately tolerant of sea spray. [14] [15] Palms are tolerant of a wide range of soils but can be susceptible to potassium deficiency. [14] Because of their massive crowns, they need plenty of room in a landscape area. [6]

Bismarck palm tree care and maintenance

Bismarck palms are easy to grow in the right environment as they are adaptable to a wide range of soils and prefer to have good drainage as the Bismarck does not like to have root rot. The Bismarck palm can adapt to either acidic or alkaline soil and prefers to be watered directly into the root system or sprayed through the palm heart. When planting the Bismarck palm make sure to not to cover up any part of the trunk, as this will lead to problems as the Bismarck palm is susceptible to be eaten by microorganisms that live naturally in soil and other mediums. [11]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Ravenea</i> Genus of palms

Ravenea is a genus of 20 known species of palms, all native to Madagascar and the Comoros.

<i>Chrysalidocarpus lutescens</i> Species of plant from Madagascar

Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, also known by its synonym Dypsis lutescens and as golden cane palm, areca palm, yellow palm, butterfly palm, or bamboo palm, is a species of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae, native to Madagascar and naturalized in the Andaman Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, Réunion, El Salvador, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Canary Islands, southern Florida, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands and the Leeward Antilles. Its native names are rehazo and lafahazo.

<i>Dypsis decaryi</i> Species of plant in the family Arecaceae

Dypsis decaryi is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family. It is commonly known as the triangle palm. It is indigenous to the Madagascar rainforest. Some specimens grow to a height of some 15 metres (49 ft) in the wild. It is relatively new to cultivation however, so outside its native habitat it rarely achieves anything like that height. The leaves are about 2.5 metres in length, growing almost upright from the trunk and arching gracefully outward about a metre from their tips. The leaf bases are arranged in three vertical columns set about 120 degrees apart on the main stem, forming a triangular shape in cross section. This shape has given rise to the palm's common name.

<i>Dypsis onilahensis</i> Species of plant in the family Arecaceae

Dypsis onilahensis is a species of palm tree in the family Arecaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar as is reflected in the species name (onilahensis) referring to the Onilahy River, south of Toliara. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Lemurophoenix</i> Genus of palms

Lemurophoenix halleuxii is a species of palm tree, the only species in the genus Lemurophoenix. It is found only in Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss and overcollection. There are perhaps 300 mature individuals remaining in the wild.

<i>Masoala kona</i> Species of plant in the family Arecaceae

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<i>Ravenea albicans</i> Species of plant in the family Arecaceae

Ravenea albicans is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family. It is a palm endemic to northeast Madagascar and found in seven fragmented locations between the towns of Ampasimanolotra and Antalaha with the exception of one location much farther south near Vondrozo. It is an endangered species threatened by habitat loss. There are perhaps 200 mature individuals remaining. In its natural range it tends to grow in humid forests within northeast Madagascar's mountain valleys. It is unique among the Ravenea genus because its pinnate leaves have an exotic, colorful appearance. Its species name, albicans, is derived from the Latin word for the color white, album, as is the word for albinism. The base of each frond is green, yet they become white to dark grey near the tip at maturity. Some individuals have completely white fronds.

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<i>Tahina spectabilis</i> Species of palm

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borasseae</span> Tribe of palms

Borasseae is a tribe in the palm subfamily Coryphoideae. The tribe ranges from southern Africa and Madagascar north through the Arabian Peninsula to India, Indochina, Indonesia and New Guinea. Several genera are restricted to islands in the Indian Ocean. The two largest genera, Hyphaene and Borassus, are also the most widespread.

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References

  1. Rakotoarinivo, M. & Dransfield, J. 2012. Bismarckia nobilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T195991A2440090. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T195991A2440090.en. Accessed on 05 May 2023.
  2. Hildebrant and H. A. Wendland, Botanische Zeitung 39:90, 93. 1881. Type:B. nobilis
  3. 1 2 Govaerts, Rafaël; Dransfield, John; Govaerts, Rafael (2005). World checklist of palms. Plants, people, possibilities (1. publ ed.). Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens. ISBN   978-1-84246-084-9.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Dransfield, John; Beentje, Henk (1995). The palms of Madagascar (1. publ ed.). Kew: Royal Botanical Garden [u.a.] ISBN   978-0-947643-82-9.
  5. 1 2 "Bismarckia nobilis Hildebrandt & H.Wendl. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Riffle, Robert L. and Craft, Paul (2003) An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Portland: Timber Press. ISBN   0-88192-558-6 / ISBN   978-0-88192-558-6 (Page 274)
  7. "Flora in Madagascar". Archived from the original on 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  8. 1 2 "Ecoregions of Madagascar". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  9. 1 2 3 IUCN (2010-12-17). Bismarckia nobilis: Rakotoarinivo, M. & Dransfield, J.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T195991A2440090 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2012.rlts.t195991a2440090.en.
  10. The New Natural History of Madagascar. Princeton University Press. 2022. doi:10.2307/j.ctv2ks6tbb.34. ISBN   978-0-691-22262-2.
  11. 1 2 http://realpalmtrees.com/palm-blog/a-e/bismarck-palm-bismarckia-nobilis/ Bismarck palm blog
  12. "Bismarckia nobilis (Bismark Palm) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  13. "NParks | Bismarckia nobilis 'Silver'". www.nparks.gov.sg. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  14. 1 2 "ENH260/ST101: Bismarckia nobilis: Bismarck Palm". Ask IFAS - Powered by EDIS. University of Florida. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  15. "Campus Arboretum: Bismarckia nobilis". apps.cals.arizona.edu. University of Arizona. Retrieved 2024-11-18.