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Useful Tropical Plants

Beccariophoenix madagascariensis

Jum. & H.Perrier

Arecaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

Beccariophoenix madagascariensis
Tree
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
Beccariophoenix madagascariensis Beccariophoenix madagascariensis Beccariophoenix madagascariensis Beccariophoenix madagascariensis Beccariophoenix madagascariensis Beccariophoenix madagascariensis Beccariophoenix madagascariensis

General Information

Beccariophoenix madagascariensis is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm with a stem up to 10 metres tall topped with a rosette of large leaves that can be 4.5 metres long[
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.
].
The sap is tapped from the trunk to make a sweet drink that is consumed locally.
Young leaves of the plant were at one time much sought after, being used for making a special hat known as 'Manarano'[
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.
]. Their excessive exploitation greatly reduced population levels of this species, almost extincting it. Consequently, the tree has been classified as 'Critically Endangered' 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 - Madagascar.

Habitat

Humid forests at elevations of 900 - 1,000 metres[
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.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusCritically Endangered
Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height10.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Plants can tolerate occasional temperatures down to about -2°c[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
Succeeds in light shade[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].

Edible Uses

The sap is tapped to make a sweet drink[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].

The apical bud and young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable[
664
Title
CITES Prop. 12.60
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/12/prop/E12-P60.pdf
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A proposal by CITES to list certain species of palm endemic to Madagascar in Appendix II.
,
763
Title
Heart of Palm Use: A Family Survey
Publication
 
Author
Scott Zona, Ph.D.
Website
http://www.virtualherbarium.org/palmresearch/Hearts_of_Palm_table.html
Publisher
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Virtual Herbarium.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line article listing the botanical names and range of palm trees that have an edible apical bud.
]. Harvesting this bud will lead to the death of the tree because it cannot make side branches[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Young leaves are used to make a hat known as 'Manarano'[
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.
].

The wood is much used locally for making boxes[
664
Title
CITES Prop. 12.60
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/12/prop/E12-P60.pdf
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A proposal by CITES to list certain species of palm endemic to Madagascar in Appendix II.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-04-25. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Beccariophoenix+madagascariensis>

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