Rhapidophyllum

subsp. var.
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Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Rhapidophyllum (Greek, probably means Rhapis-leaved). Palmaceae. Blue Palmetto. Needle Palm. One species ranging from S. C. to Fla. It is a dwarf fan palm with erect or creeping trunk 2-3 ft. long, and long-stalked nearly round deeply and unequally cleft lvs. with about 15 segms.: spadices short-peduncled: spathes 2-5, entire, tubular, compressed, bifid, woolly: fls. minute, orange: fr. small, ovoid or obovate, woolly. The genus is closely allied to Chamaerops and is distinguished by having the albumen not ruminate and by the bracts at the base of the branches of the spadix being few or none. The plant is said to produce suckers freely, like Rhapis. Cult, as in Rhapis. Rhapidophyllum, hystrix, the blue palmetto or needle palmetto, is the most beautiful and elegant of our native dwarf palms. It is very local in its distribution, being found in rich low soil both in Georgia and Florida, but it is everywhere rather rare. Its most striking characteristics are the long sharp black spines projecting in every direction from the dark fibers which cover the trunk. These spines, which are often a foot long, seem to protect the inflorescence, which before opening resembles a large white egg and which is imbedded among the spines. This palm bears staminate and pistillate flowers on separate plants. The woolly clusters of fruit or seeds are borne on short stems also surrounded by the sharp spines. This palmetto is easily transplanted. The leaves are dark shiny green, relieved by a pale silvery gray on the under surface. It is a very beautiful plant, and groups of it are striking. The stem is 2 to 3 feet high and the leaves rise to a height of 3 to 4 feet. (H. Nehrling.) The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

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