This is a very large genus of over 150 species pinnate, clustering or solitary, monoecious, mostly crownshafted palms that vary from immense to diminutive, all from Madagascar or one of the two nearby islands (Comoro and Pemba). This genus originally consisted of about 80 species spread across 6 genera, but Dr. John Dransfield and Henk Beentje studied the entire lot in the 1980s and 90s and concluded all these palms should be in the same genus, Dypsis. The old genera included Neodypsis, Phloga, Marcrophloga, Chyrsalidocarpus and Vonitra. It has taken nearly 20 years for older palm enthusiasts and collectors to come to term with this new classification, but it is now pretty much universally accepted. And new species are being added all the time thanks to some energetic researchers and nurserymen who keep coming up with different palms all the time. This genus is of particular interest to California growers as most species of Dypsis are ending up being quite growable here, though some are much easier than others. Some of the best collections of palms now in So Cal include over 100 species or more of this genus and finally many are getting close to maturity. Still, most grow better, faster and more beautifully in Hawaii, so a visit to the islands is definitely recommended for palm enthusiasts that have fallen in love with this genus. Some Dypsis are among the most common palms in the world now, while many are still missing completely from cultivation. As a rule this genus does not perform that well indoors, not do many tolerate desert conditions or very low temperatures.
DYPSIS
Moderator: Geoff
Forum rules
This section is dedicated toward maintaining one active thread for each Arecaceae species/subspecies/variety/cultivar. Please feel free to add information and/or photos to existing threads or start your own by adding Genus/species as the thread subject. Note that listings are displayed alphabetically. Enjoy!
This section is dedicated toward maintaining one active thread for each Arecaceae species/subspecies/variety/cultivar. Please feel free to add information and/or photos to existing threads or start your own by adding Genus/species as the thread subject. Note that listings are displayed alphabetically. Enjoy!
- Geoff
- Moderator
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- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:12 am
- Location: Acton, California 93510
- Geoff
- Moderator
- Posts: 5267
- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:12 am
- Location: Acton, California 93510