Cyphophoenix fulcita is a species of plant in the palm family native to New Caledonia. It was previously placed in the genus Campecarpus.

Cyphophoenix fulcita
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Cyphophoenix
Species:
C. fulcita
Binomial name
Cyphophoenix fulcita
(Brongn.) H.Wendl. ex Salomon
Synonyms
  • Campecarpus fulcitus

Description

edit

The trunk is solitary to 15 m in height, at 13 cm wide, supported by a nearly 2 m tall mass of stilt roots. Prominently ringed by scars, the trunks are topped off by a tall green to white crownshaft with a bulging base. The leaves are pinnate up to 3 m long with 1 m long, single-fold, dark green leaflets; rachis and petiole scaly to tomentose.[1]

The inflorescence is interfoliar, once or twice branched and hairy. The male and female flowers are borne in triads at the base of the rachilla and are solitary or in pairs towards the end. The fruit is slightly ovoid, epicarp smooth, mesocarp fleshy and fibrous, with one similarly shaped seed.

Distribution and habitat

edit

It is restricted to New Caledonia's southern end where it grows in low, wet, mountainous rain forest and on serpentinite rocks.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Uhl, Natalie W. and Dransfield, John (1987) Genera Palmarum - A classification of palms based on the work of Harold E. Moore. Lawrence, Kansas: Allen Press. ISBN 0-935868-30-5 / ISBN 978-0-935868-30-2
edit