Volume 11 > Part 3 > Year 2013 > Page 424 > Arecaceae > Kerriodoxa

Kerriodoxa elegans J.Dransf.wfo-0000220954

Principes 27: 4. 1983. Plate CV: A–C. Fig. 14.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Solitary tree palm, 1–4(–10) m tall. Stem procumbent, sometimes subterranean, only the very tall ones basally clean, closely ringed, 18–25 cm diam. Leaves 25–35 in crown; sheath 45–60 cm long; petiole 1.5–3 m long, dark green to black, unarmed but with sharp edges, blade up to 2 m diam., flattened, dark green and glabrous above, with dense white indumentum below, divided for 0.2–0.3 of its radius into 90–100 single-fold segments. Male inflorescence arching, peduncle to 30 cm long, rachis 15–20 cm long, first order branches 15–20, rachillae numerous, 10–15 cm long, flowers 0.25–0.3 cm long; female infl orescence erect, peduncle to 30 cm long, rachis 35–40 cm long, rachillae numerous, to 12 cm long and zig-zag, flowers 0.5–0.6 mm long. Fruit 3.5–4(–5) cm diam., epicarp irregularly and minutely warty, cream-coloured turning orange yellow at maturity.

Thailand : PENINSULAR: Surat Thani, Phuket (type: Dransfield 5121, holotype -K).

Distribution : Endemic to Peninsular Thailand.

Ecology : Humid forests on hill slopes, to 300 m alt., growing gregariously.

Vernacular : Praya thalang (พระยาถลาง), chao muang thalang (เจ้าเมืองถลาง), ching lang khao (ชิงหลังขาว), thang lang khao (ทังหลังขาว)(Phuket).

Uses: Ornamental.

Conservation Status: This palm is currently well preserved within the boundaries of two National Parks. In Khao Phra Thaeo non-hunting area it constitutes the dominant element in the forest undergrowth.

Notes: Narrowly restricted to two localities in Peninsular Thailand: Khao Phra Thaeo non-hunting area on Phuket and Khao Sok National Park.