Common Name:

General Information

Hydriastele biakensis is a single stemmed, robust, evergreen palm with an unbranched stem up to around 15 metres tall and 30cm in diameter; this is topped by a crown of 18 - 24 leaves, each of which is around 3.3 - 3.6 metres long including the petiole[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials.
Hydriastele biakensis has a small range, being restricted to the Biak Islands of New Guinea. Four sub-populations are known, with an estimated total population size of up to 260 individuals, and with the sub-populations on Biak both not exceeding 100 individuals. Further, its habitat is known to be severely degraded on the south coast of Biak where it is persisting as a few scattered individuals, and there is an ongoing threat from deforestation. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australasia - western New Guinea (Numfoor Island, Biak Island)

Habitat

A canopy tree growing in coastal forest near beaches or on cliff edges, on rugged limestone with very thin or no topsoil[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The leaf sheaths are used for making baskets[].

The hard outer section of the trunk is split and used for flooring[].

Propagation

Seed -

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