Saturday 25 May
Endangered Species of the Week: Kakapo - the World's Favourite Species!
Palm (Ravenea louvelii)
CRITICALLYENDANGERED
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Find out here.Palm fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Palm description
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Arecales |
| Family | Palmae |
| Genus | Ravenea (1) |
Ravenea louvelii is a small, squat palm of the rainforest understory (2). It resembles a shuttlecock in appearance (3); the long leaves can extend as far as three metres from the short stem (2). The leaves act as a 'litter trap', funnelling dead leaves and other debris into a heap at the centre of the crown and thus producing the palm's very own compost heap (3). Slender, dark green leaflets extend from the long leaf axis (2). Male and female trees are separate (3), but the flowers of both are hidden amongst the leaf bases; they have a musty scent and are cream in colour (2). The globular, purple fruits are also well hidden, and the seeds are oval and flat (2).
- Size
- Trunk height: 1.5 - 3 m (2)
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Related species
Palm biology
The hidden nature and musty odour of the flowers suggest that they are probably pollinated by beetles (2).
TopPalm range
Only known from Andasibe in Eastern Madagascar (2). Population numbers are worryingly low and as few as 10 mature trees may remain (1).
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Species with a similar range
Palm habitat
This palm is found on the crest of a ridge within disturbed montane forest, around 800 metres above sea level (3).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Palm status
Ravenea louvelii is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Palm threats
Deforestation to make way for agriculture is a major threat to many different species in Madagascar. Additionally, Ravenea louvelii may only be found on a single ridge-top where it is highly vulnerable to disturbance, and fruit dispersal appears to be extremely limited (3). Over-collection by palm enthusiasts provides a further threat to the survival of this unusual species (3).
TopPalm conservation
This palm is currently not found within any protected areas and gathering more information on the restricted nature of the population is a conservation priority (3).
TopAuthentication
Authenticated (2/7/03) by Dr. John Dransfield. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk
Glossary
- Leaflets
- The individual 'leaf-like' parts of a compound leaf.
References
-
IUCN Red List (February, 2013)
http://www.redlist.org - Dransfield, J. and Beentje, H. (1995) The Palms of Madagascar. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London.
- Dransfield, J. (September, 2002) Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Pers. comm.
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Image credit
Ravenea louvelii
© John Dransfield / Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 208 332 5000
Fax: +44 (0) 208 332 5197
info@kew.org
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk
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