Dypsis baronii
(Becc.) Beentje & J.Dransf.
Arecaceae
Chrysalidocarpus baronii Becc.
Chrysalidocarpus propinquus Jum.
Neodypsis baronii (Becc.) Jum.
Neodypsis compacta Jum.
Common Name:
Cultivated plants at Auckland Botanic Gardens, Manukau City, New Zealand
Photograph by: Kahuroa
Public domain
Cultivated plants at Auckland Botanic Gardens, Manukau City, New Zealand
Photograph by: Kahuroa
Public domain
Flowering plant
Photograph by: Henk Beentje
Image credit to Palmweb
Male flowers
Photograph by: John Dransfield
Image credit to Palmweb
Growing in its native habitat in Madagascar
Photograph by: John Dransfield
Image credit to Palmweb
General Information
Dypsis baronii is a multi-stemmed, evergreen, feather palm growing 2 - 8 metres tall. The sugarcane-like stems are clustered in groups of 3 - 5, they can be 12 - 22cm in diameter and are unbranched, each topped by a crown of 4 - 8 leaves up to 170cm long[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its edible apical bud and various medicinal uses. A very elegant palm, it is grown in Antananarivo and other parts of Madagascar (and occasionally elsewhere) as an ornamental[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The main threats to this species are harvesting for its edible heart and seed collection for horticulture. However, it is a relatively common species and so is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
455- Title
- Flore de Madagascar et des Comores
- Publication
-
- Author
- Humbert H.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle; Paris
- Year
- 1946 - 1984
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Written in French, an excellent flora of the area though it has not been completed. Available for download from the Internet.
Range
Africa - northern and central Madagascar.
Habitat
Moist montane forest and bamboo-dominated forest at elevations from 850 - 1,500 metres, usually on steep slopes, less often on ridge-crests[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
One of the most cold tolerant of the Madagascan palms, it is quite untroubled by even several degrees of frost[
314- Title
- Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
].
The plant can be a bit difficult in cultivation, but usually prefers a lightly shaded, moist, but well drained position[
314- Title
- Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
].
Edible Uses
Leaves - cooked. The palm heart (apical bud) is reported to be an excellent vegetable[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Harvesting this heart leads to the death of the individual stem since it is unable to produce side shoots[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Fruit - raw. A sweet flavour[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Medicinal
The plant (parts not specified but probably the bark and/or the fruits) is used in the treatment of headaches, jaundice and hepatitis; and also as an aid to lactation[
547- Title
- Assessing Ethnobotanical Knowledge and Resources, Lokaro Reserve, SE Madagascar
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lehman A.D.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A thesis, in PDF format, by Ashley Davis Lehman of the University of Montana, Missoula, MT.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seeds germinate in 1 - 3 months[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
