Solitary palm
Ptychosperma elegans, Fam. Arecaceae
![](https://cqclandcarenetwork.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/photo-pending-seedling2.png)
Tall, slender, single stemmed feather palm to 15m. Ptychosperma from the Greek ‘ptychos’ fold, cleft or layer and ‘sperma’ seed, referring to the five clefts in each seed; elegans from the Latin meaning elegant, neat or tasteful, referring to the habit.
Weed Category: | |
Weed: | No |
Form or habit: | Palm or palm-like plant |
Family: | Arecaceae |
Leaf: | 1-2.5m long, pinnately divided, dark green on upper surface, slightly paler below. Terminal leaflets are joined at the base and resemble a fish tail. |
Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
Flower colour: |
White |
Flower description: | Panicle (30-60cm long) with semi-pendulous branchlets bearing both male and female flowers. White flowers, about 8mm in diameter, fragrant. |
Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
Fruit colour: |
Red |
Fruit: | |
Fruit description: | Ovoid, bright red when ripe, 14-18mm long, containing one seed. Seed have five longitudinal grooves and are surrounded by a thin fibrous, fleshy layer. Autumn to summer. |
Habitat: | Rainforest. |
Distribution | Queensland, Northern Territory. |
Food source for: | Fruit eaten by the green catbird and metallic starling. Larval food plant of the orange palm dart and yellow palm dart butterflies. |
Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
Origin: | Australia. |
Notes: | The flesh of the red fruit is edible. Grow from fresh seed. Once used to make split can fishing rods. |
Information sources: | Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia. |