Rhapis excelsa
| Bamboo Palm | |
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| Rhapis excelsa | |
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| Species: | R. excelsa
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Rhapis excelsa (Greek rhapis, meaning "needle"; Latin excelsa, meaning "tall") also known as Broadleaf Lady Palm or Bamboo Palm is a species of fan palm (Corypheae) native to southern China. First collected by the Japan for Tokugawa shogunate palaces, Rhapis popularity spread to Europe, and finally to America where its low light and humidity requirements make it a common feature in malls and offices.
R. excelsa grows up to 4 m. in height and 30 mm. in diameter in multi-stemmed clumps with glossy, palmate leaves divided into broad, ribbed segments. Leaf segments are single or few in young plants and increase to 12 in mature plants. Leaf ends are saw-toothed unlike most other palms, occurring on slender petioles ranging from 20 to 60 cm. in length. New foliage emerges from a fibrous sheath which remains attached to the base. As the plants age, the sheaths fall, revealing the bamboo-like trunks. This usually dioecious palm species produces a small inflorescence at the top of the plant with spirally-arranged, fleshy flowers containing three petals fused at the base. Ripe fruit are fleshy and white, though they more readily propagate via underground rhizome offshoots.
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Immature inflorescence -
R. excelsa foliage -
Sheathed and exposed stems
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