Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
| Bangalow Palm | |
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| Species: | A. cunninghamiana
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| Binomial name | |
| Archontophoenix cunninghamiana | |
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, the Bangalow Palm or King Palm, is an Australian palm. It can grow up to and over 12 metres (40 feet) tall. Its flower colour is violet and the red fruits are attractive to birds. It flowers in mid-summer and has evergreen foliage. It has become a noxious weed in many areas where it has been used as an ornamental plant. It can grow in single (1 tree), double (two trees joined together or even triple (three trees joined together).
In Southern Brazil, it has become an invasive species, profiting from the local extinction of the endangered native palm Euterpe edulis. [1]. In New Zealand, there is concern that A. cunninghamiana could invade native forests, since it has the same ecological requirements as the native nikau palm. The Auckland Regional Council has included A. cunninghamiana on a list of plants requiring further research on their potential to adversely affect the environment.[2]
Footnotes
- ^ Frisch & Frisch (2005), page 354, Christianini (2006)
- ^ ARC Research Programme
References
CHRISTIANINI, Alexander V. - "Fecundity, dispersal, and predation of seeds of Archontophoenix cunninghamiana H. Wendl & Drude, an invasive palm in the Atlantic Forest". Revista Brasileira de Botânica, V.29, no.4, october/december 2006 Portuguese & English abstracts.
FRISCH, J.D. & FRISCH, C.D. - Aves Brasileiras e plantas que as atraem [Brazilian birds and plants which attract them]: 2005, São Paulo, Dalgas Ecotec, ISBN 85-85015-07-1
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