BISMARCKIA

Bismarckia Hilderbrandt & Wendl., Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 39: 93. 1881.

Monotypic genus

Bismarckia nobilis

Bismarckia nobilis Hilderbrandt & Wendl., Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 39: 94. 1881.

Robust, solitary palm tree. Stem (Trunk) 6-12 m tall, smooth, irregularly ringed with close leaf scars, 30-45 cm thick, topped with 10-15 ft wide canopy of many grey-green leaves, bark gey to tan-brown. Leaves induplicate, stiff, large, over 3 m across when mature, fan-shaped, costapalmate, divided to a third its length into 20-70 stiff, once-folded segments, segments themselves split at the ends, segments one-nerved, with nerves armed with small sharp teeth; leaves producing an adaxial wedge-shaped hastula where blade and petiole meet; silver-coloured because of surface bloom of silver-grey wax; interfold filaments conspicuous. Petioles 2-3 m long, sturdy, slightly armed, covered with a white wax as well as patches of reddish fringed scales.

Plants dioecious. Inflorescences arching, interfoliar, shorter than leaves, branched reaching ca. 1.5 m in length, emerging from between the leaves. Male and female inflorescences similar. Flowers small inconspicuous, creamy white. Fruits drupes, ovoid, olive brown, 3.5-4 cm in diameter, single-seeded produced in large clusters. (Flowers and fruits not observed).

Flowering and Fruiting: Not observed
Common Names: Bismarck Palm