PalmScapes: The Iguanura sp. Palm

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!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Iguanura sp. Palm

Botanical Name : Iguanura sp.

Found this rare and unusual palm in the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve. It doesn't seem to be planted there but there aren't any around that was similar to this one. However, there were many (maybe say loads!) of Caryota mitis (Clustering Fishtail Palm) throughout the forest floor, which I plan to post later.

The leaves of the Iguanura sp. are bifids, split like the tail of a tuna fish but not completely divided and jagged at the tips. Has evenly pleated lines throughout the leaf.

A native of Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Borneo, this understory palm appears to thrive in partial shade with some sun and moist lowland soil.

let the sun shine through

simple leaf form

vibrant

From my observation, its stems are smooth, thin and segmented. Not much for support to grow upright.

This group certainly looks cute and attractive at about 4feet tall. Think they will make stunning house plants and a great match beneath taller palms for shade and accentuating the landscape.

Great find today! ;)