PalmScapes: The Blue Latan 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!

Friday, September 24, 2010

The Blue Latan Palm

Botanical Name : Latania loddigesii

This stunning native of the Mascarene islands is a close relative of the Bismarkia nobilis. At a quick glance, it would be easy to mistake it for the silver bizzie.

The slightly swollen dark grey trunks are said to be ringed though it is not obvious here due to a layer of blackish moss covering.

The bluish green colour of the petioles run all the way right up to the small veins of huge costapalmate leaves. These greyish green leaves are held upright. Also noted are thick patches of orange brown wool (scurf?) found on the lower arms of the petioles.

It's wonderful to see large stalks of compact golden flowers arising from amongst the leaves. Am not certain what its blooms smell like but peculiarly, they attracted some large flies instead of the usual bees.