Solitaire palm, Alexander Palm, Seaforthia palm
Ptychosperma elegans

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A solitary palm which grows to 10 m high. The trunk is slender and grey. It is 7-20 cm across. The trunk has rings along it. The crown-shaft is whitish-green. The leaves are bright green and arching. The leaves are compound. They are 1-2.5 m long. There are 40-60 leaflets which are 50-60 cm long. They are smooth. The fruit is 15-20 mm long. They occur in bunches below the crown-shaft. The fruit are bright red. There is one seed which is about 15 mm long. The flesh of the fruit is edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest in NE Queensland, in Australia. They will grow in the subtropics. It needs well drained soil. It can grow in part shade or full sun. It suits seasonally moist and dry climates. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. In Townsville palmetum. They are sensitive to frost. It suits plant hardiness zones 10-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Dominican Republic, Haiti, Indonesia, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young unexpanded leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The flesh of the red fruit is edible.

Edible parts

Fruit, palm heart

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seed. Seed is produced in large quantities and grows readily. Seed germinate in 5-6 months. They need protection from direct sunlight for the first 2-4 years. Seedlings transplant easily.

They can be very fast growing. It flowers in warm, wet months.

Its other names

Local names

Bangalow, Elegant palm, Palem solitari

Synonyms

Archontophoenix elegans (R. Brown) Rock; Archontophoenix jardinei F. M. Bailey; Ptychosperma capitis-yorkii H. Wendl. & Drude; Ptychosperma elegans var. sphaerocarpum Becc.; Ptychosperma jardinei (Bailey) Bailey; Ptychosperma seaforthia Miq.; Ptychosperma wendlandiana Burret; Seaforthia elegans R. Brown;