Polyandrococos caudescens (Buri Palm)


Botanical Information

FamilyArecaceae
GenusPolyandrococos
Speciescaudescens
SynonymsCeroxylon niveum, Diplothemium caudescens, Diplothemium pectinatum, Orania nivea, Polyandrococos caudescens, Polyandrococos pectinata
CategoryTropicals, Woody
TypeTree (evergreen)
OriginEastern Brazil.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone9b - 11
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness ZoneRequires cold season protection under glass.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH3 - H1c
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)- 3.8 - above 4.5
Temperature (°F)25 - 40
Height10-15 m
GrowthSlow

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA single-stemmed, evergreen palm tree, capable of growing eventually to a height of about 15 metres. The unbranched stem can be 15 - 25 cm in diameter, crowned with a rosette of 10 - 15 leaves that can be 2 - 3 metres long. In the far north of its range, especially on infertile soils, the plant often has a short, subterranean stem instead of an upright stem.
PropagationBy seed.
CultivationPrefers a sunny, well drained position in poor coastal sands. Established plants are drought tolerant. A slow-growing plant when very young, speeding up somewhat once planted out.
Notable SpecimensQueen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.
HabitatAtlantic rainforests, mainly in the more open, secondary growth areas.
Bark/Stem DescriptionRough and solitary natured, and reaching over 15 m at 25 cm wide, usually covered in old leaf bases.
Leaf DescriptionPinnate, feather shaped, medium sized 2.5 - 3 m, and the undersides of the leaflets are silver. This palm holds its leaves very upright.
Flower DescriptionA pendulous, solitary, interfoliar spike, unbranched, with an elongated peduncle and a tubular prophyll.
Fruit DescriptionGreenish-brown, almost globose fruit is up to 45 mm long and 35 mm in diameter, containing a single seed.

Photographs