Latania loddigesii

Common name

blue latan palm

Description

Stem: Solitary, upright stems to 10 m tall and up to 25 cm in diameter, bulging at the base of the stem, with irregular, slightly raised leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
scar rings on a dark grayish background. Leaves: Costapalmatecostapalmate:
a fan-shaped leaf with a midrib (costa) extending into the blade, sometimes extending far enough into the blade to cause it to curve (e.g., <em>Sabal palmetto</em>)
, induplicateinduplicate:
Most palm leaflets or leaf segments are obviously folded. If the folds create a V-shape, with the midrib lower than the margins (so that rain might fall "into a valley"), the folding is induplicate.
, up to 3 m wide, divided into stiff, single-fold segments about 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
blade, with undivided leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
segment tips. The leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
color is a pale waxy blue to blue-green with dense, pale, wooly (floccose) tomentumtomentum:
a covering of closely matted or fine hairs on plant leaves
on the underside. The leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
sheath splits to form a V-shape below the petiole, the petiole is smooth and sharp-edged or armed with minute teeth along the margin near its base, and the hastulahastula:
a flange or collar-like flap of tissue extending from the petiole where a palmate leaf blade joins it; often seen on the upper (adaxial) surface, but may also be found on the lower (abaxial) surface in some palms
is flat and somewhat arrow-shaped. Flowers and fruit: Yellowish staminatestaminate:
a flower bearing stamens but no pistils; a “male” flower
and pistillatepistillate:
a flower bearing a pistil but no stamens; a “female” flower
flowers grow on separate palms. Inflorescences with male flowers shorter (to 1 m long) and have more branches than those with female flowers (to 2 m long). Fruits are oblong (up to 2.5 cm wide and 7.5 cm long) and greenish-brown in color. The fruits are similar to those of a peach or apricot in that a woody "pit" with a textured surface encloses a smooth, almond-shaped seed.

Diagnostic features

Field: Latania loddigesii is a solitary, erect palm with undulating leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
scars; waxy, blue-green costapalmatecostapalmate:
a fan-shaped leaf with a midrib (costa) extending into the blade, sometimes extending far enough into the blade to cause it to curve (e.g., <em>Sabal palmetto</em>)
leaves; and a triangular or arrow-shaped hastulahastula:
a flange or collar-like flap of tissue extending from the petiole where a palmate leaf blade joins it; often seen on the upper (adaxial) surface, but may also be found on the lower (abaxial) surface in some palms
. This species has a sculptured fruit endocarp (pit) containing a smooth seed.

Lab: The wooly scales on the underside of the leaves are whitish to pale pinkish beige.

May be confused with

Bismarkia nobilis is also a solitary, erect palm with waxy, blue-green costapalmatecostapalmate:
a fan-shaped leaf with a midrib (costa) extending into the blade, sometimes extending far enough into the blade to cause it to curve (e.g., <em>Sabal palmetto</em>)
leaves, but its hastulahastula:
a flange or collar-like flap of tissue extending from the petiole where a palmate leaf blade joins it; often seen on the upper (adaxial) surface, but may also be found on the lower (abaxial) surface in some palms
is asymetrical and spoon-shaped. The wooly scales on the underside of Latania loddigesii leaves are pale, not dark cinnamon-colored as in Bismarkia nobilis, and the seeds of Latania are enclosed in sculpted pyrenes (like a peach seed inside a pit), unlike those of Bismarkia.

Distribution

Native to Mascarene Islands

Additional comments

Occasionally cultivated in Hawaii

Scientific name

Latania loddigesii Mart.

Family

Arecaceae/Palmae

Synonyms

Cleophora loddigesii ( Mart. ) O.F.Cook

Latania glaucophylla Hort. ex Baker