Botanical Description
MacArthur Palm (Ptychosperma propinquum) is a moderately sized clustering palm. 3 to 8 m in height, 8 to 10 leaves in each stem, the stems are around 2 to 8 cm in diameter. The leaf varies from 1.5 to 2.8 m long, the leaf sheath is around 29 to 61 cm in length, the petiole is 20 to 58 cm long while the rachis can reach up to 2 m in length. Each compound leaf has 19 to 25 pairs of leaflets arranged irregularly, leaflets linear-lanceolate. Inflorescence racemose and 25-44 cm long, rachillae 16-40 cm in length , flowers green at anthesis. Female flowers are roughly 4 by 4 mm in diameter while the male flowers are 6 to 8 by 3 to 4 mm with whitish stamens. The fruit is 13 to 16 mm by 7 by 11 mm in dimension that is orange to red once ripened. The seed is 5-lobed and 8 to 10 mm by 5 to 7 mm and is rounded to blocky, the size and spacing is unequal.
Uses:
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Landscaping:
This plant is prominently used for landscaping. It is widely cultivated in gardens throughout the world due to its ornamental value.