Bangalow palm, Piccabeen palm
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A tall single stemmed feather leafed palm. It has a bright green to rusty brown crown shaft formed by the leaf sheaths. This is 1 m long. The fronds are long and curved and form an umbrella shaped crown. The trunk is brown to grey. It grows to 25 m tall and is 30 cm across. It has rings of leaf scars along the trunk. The leaves are 2-4 m long and divided into drooping leaflets along its length. The leaflets are 60-100 cm long and 5-10 cm wide. They have long pointed tips. The leaf stalk twists along its length making the end fronds vertical. The flowering stalk is large and branched. It is 40-90 cm long. Several flowering stalks are often present at the same time. Two large papery bracts which are thin and pointed enclose the flowers but fall before flowers open. The flowers are pink, stalk-less and 1 cm across. Male and female flowers are on the same stalk. They are in spiral arrangements of irregular groups of 3. The fruit are orange red when ripe. They are 10-15 mm across.

There are 6 Archontophoenix species.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate and subtropical plant. It grows along stream banks. In northern Australia it grows from sea level to 700 m altitude. They require well-drained soil. They need high humidity. It suits hardiness zones 10-11. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Brazil, East Africa, Pacific, South America, Tasmania, USA, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young shoots just coming out of the ground can be eaten raw. As this kills the palm it is not normally useful.

Edible parts

Shoots, palm heart

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seed. Seed germinate within 6 months. Seedlings do not transplant easily.

Seedlings grow quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Seaforthia elegans;