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by : BTF

As I Wander...

Welcome!
Living in tropical Malaysia, we tend to take the hot humid weather, thundery rainstorms and the spectrum of wild evergreen plants as a given.

Recently, I noticed more exotic plants making its way into landscaped home gardens, recreational parks, frontages of shopping malls and
commercial buildings.

Along kerb sides of residential streets and busy motorways, palms, trees and flowering plants make pleasant and interesting fringes.

This is a record of the various species "as I see it" for I am in awe of palms. Hence, my premise for this blog is that the global garden,
i.e. every physical garden (tended or untended), becomes a part of my, simply said, cyber palm garden. ;-)

Please feel free to share your thoughts or comments.

Thank you for visiting!


ShaShinKi

ShaShinKi.com - Malaysia's Online Camera Shop!

Friday, July 16, 2010

The King Palm

Botanical Name : Ravenea rivularis

When one thinks of roof-top gardens, one hardly expects to see anything that is kind of 'larger than life' specimens. Oops! let me re-phrase myself... when (I) think of roof top gardens, (I) had hardly expected to see anything of gargantuan proportions. 

Despite being very open to what  I might see and having recalled reading that some folks took less than 30mins to tour the site, finding this rare specimen growing up there was like winning a top prize!

Also known as the Majesty Palm, this majestic palm is known to be found only in Madagascar, along rivers and streams. That it might be the only one I see in this country (on a roof top, far away from its riverine habitat) is such a privilege...



This specimen displays a strong, swollen trunk that's at least 36-40" in circumference which tapers to a healthy crown shaft comprising dark green pinnate feather leaves. While, it's a little too tall for me to get closer to the fronds but nonetheless, this is a stunner!

A solitary, robust, tropical, flowering palm it makes me wonder why there aren't more of them cultivated and grown here since the lack of water nor perennial sunshine would not pose a challenge. Our endless supply of rainfall should make these palms truly happy living here. 



The crown shaft has turned orangy-brown but I guess it's just the older petiole readying itself for shedding or abscission.


The handy garden guide (just a tad smaller than A4 size) sits beside the gray trunk for comparison. Elsewhere, it may well be a  popular house plant but for being this 'king size', I can't imagine it being indoors or on roof tops!!! No doubt, I shall be proven wrong ;-)

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