Raphia regalis

Last updated

Raphia regalis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Raphia
Species:
R. regalis
Binomial name
Raphia regalis

Raphia regalis is a species of flowering plant in the Palm Family Arecaceae r Palmae. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. Raphia regalis has extraordinarily large leaves. [2] Botanist/ecologist Francis Halle encountered a specimen in the Republic of Congo bearing a frond 25.91 meters (85 feet) in total length, of which 16.47 meters (54 feet) is the blade or lamina while 9.44 meters is the stalk or petiole of which 80 cm (32 inches) was below soil level. [3] These near-vertical fronds are arranged in the very rare 1/4 phyllotaxy. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palm-nut vulture</span> Species of bird

The palm-nut vulture or vulturine fish eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is the only member of the genus Gypohierax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African palm swift</span> Species of bird

The African palm swift is a small swift. It is very similar to the Asian palm swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis, and was formerly considered to be the same species. The Malagasy palm swift was also recently split from this species. This is a common species with a very wide distribution which faces no obvious threats and may be increasing in numbers as a result of the cultivation of the exotic Washington palm, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raffia palm</span> Genus of flowering plants in the palm family Arecaceae

Raffia palms are members of the genus Raphia. The Malagasy name rafia is derived from fia "to squeeze juice". The genus contains about twenty species of palms native to tropical regions of Africa, and especially Madagascar, with one species also occurring in Central and South America. R. taedigera is the source of raffia fibers, which are the veins of the leaves, and this species produces a fruit called "brazilia pods", "uxi nuts" or "uxi pods".

<i>Osmunda regalis</i> Species of fern

Osmunda regalis, or royal fern, is a species of deciduous fern, native to Europe, Africa and Asia, growing in woodland bogs and on the banks of streams. The species is sometimes known as flowering fern due to the appearance of its fertile fronds.

<i>Alsophila dregei</i> Species of fern

Alsophila dregei, synonym Cyathea dregei, is a widespread species of tree fern in southern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern black flycatcher</span> Species of bird

The southern black flycatcher is a small passerine bird of the genus Melaenornis in the flycatcher family, Muscicapidae, native to open and lightly wooded areas of eastern and southern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern yellow bat</span> Species of bat

The northern yellow bat is a non-migratory bat in the family Vespertilionidae, typically active year-round except during abnormally frigid winter weather, during which they will induce torpor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayan field rat</span> Species of rodent

The Malayan field rat, Malaysian field rat or Malaysian wood rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is nocturnal and mainly arboreal and is found in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is a common species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as being of "least concern".

<i>Normanbya</i> Monotypic genus of palm endemic to Queensland

Normanbya is a monotypic genus of palms containing the single species Normanbya normanbyi, which is known by the common name black palm It is endemic to Queensland, Australia and is threatened by habitat destruction.

<i>Raphia australis</i> Species of palm

Raphia australis, the giant palm or rafia, is a species of raffia palm in the family Arecaceae. It is found around Kosi Bay in southern Mozambique and northeastern KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by drainage of its habitat for agriculture; it is being threatened in the Bobole Special Reserve but is more secure in the Kosi Bay area.

Ravenea musicalis, or the river palm, is a species of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae. Also known by the Antanosy word "torendriky," meaning "submerged trunk", R. musicalis is known for being the only truly aquatic palm tree. Like many mangrove trees, R. musicalis seeds germinate within the fruit, and the seedling takes root underwater. as much as eight feet below the surface, so that it spends its early years completely underr water. Endemic to Madagascar, R. musicalis was first discovered in 1993 by Henk Beentje on an expedition funded by the McDonald's restaurant. although of course it was ethnoknown by the Antanosy People for centuries. This palm is listed in the IUCN Red List. This tree is harvested by local people primarily for building material and food. Over-harvesting, habitat degradation and habitat loss threaten the remaining populations. Horticulturalists prize R. musicalis for its rarity and unique life history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

The red tree frog is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southeasternmost Nigeria, western Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, western Gabon, the lower Republic of the Congo, the lower Democratic Republic of the Congo, and northwestern Angola. It has been confused with several other species, in particular with the palm forest tree frog Leptopelis palmatus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swamp palm bulbul</span> Species of bird

The swamp palm bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is monotypic within the genus Thescelocichla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted palm thrush</span> Species of bird

The spotted palm thrush, also known as the spotted morning-thrush, is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family. They are small birds mostly consisting of the colors brown, black, and cream. They can be found in eastern African countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Their natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. This bird is a forager that has a diet consisting of invertebrates. These birds create a variety of different vocal duets as a form of communication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little spotted woodpecker</span> Species of bird in the family Picidae

The little spotted woodpecker or green-backed woodpecker, is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is native to large parts of tropical central Africa. It has an extensive range and is an uncommon species, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congo clawless otter</span> Species of carnivore

The Congo clawless otter, also known as the Cameroon clawless otter, is a species in the family Mustelidae. It was formerly recognised as a subspecies of the African clawless otter.

<i>Lovoa trichilioides</i> Species of flowering plant

Lovoa trichilioides, also called African walnut, Congowood, dibetou or tigerwood, is a species of plant in the family Meliaceae. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda. It is threatened by habitat loss. Germination success is somewhat limited by short-lived seeds which are heavily predated. Exploitation rates are high. It is one of the two principal timber species in Congo.

<i>Osmunda spectabilis</i> Species of fern

Osmunda spectabilis, known as American royal fern, is a species of fern native to a large area of the New World, from the eastern half of Canada and the United States to Argentina.

<i>Raphia farinifera</i> Species of palm

Raphia farinifera is a tropical African palm tree occurring in lowland riparian and swamp forest, also around human habitations and cultivated locations, on stream banks and other moist situations at altitudes of 50–1000 m. Found in Angola, Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Réunion, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and naturalised in east lowlands of Madagascar. Its generic epithet is derived from raphis = 'needle', probably in reference to the 4 mm long yellowish spines on the margins and main veins of the leaflets. The specific name refers to a type of starchy flour obtained from the trunk pith – farina = 'starch', fera = 'bearing'.

<i>Cycas multipinnata</i> Species of cycad

Cycas multipinnata, common name Royal Sago, is a species of cycad or Sago Palm in southwestern China and northern Vietnam. It is noteworthy for three things: First it is one of the tuberous species which some taxonomists segregate as the genus Epicycas. Secondly, it has the longest leaf stalks (petioles) of any Gymnosperm; up to 11.5 feet. Cultivated plants have had petioles as long as thirteen feet. The total length of the bipinnate frond can be up to 23 feet seven meters) The ultimate pinnules are Y-shaped. Thirdly, this very conspicuous plant escaped notice until 1994. Among Gymnosperms, these fronds are exceeded in mass only by Encephalartos laurentianus.

References

  1. Cosiaux, A.; Gardiner, L.M.; Couvreur, T.L.P. (2018). "Raphia regalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T46200A95309512. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T46200A95309512.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. Tuley, Paul (1995). The Palms of Africa. St. Ives, Cornwall, UK: Trendrine Press. p. 75.
  3. Halle, Francis (January 1977). "Longest leaf in palms?". Principes. 21 (1): 18.
  4. Tuley op.cit.