Howea forsteriana
Common names
Kentia palm
Biostatus
Exotic
Conservation status
Not applicable
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Monocotyledons
Habitat
The more commonly cultivated of the two Howea species in New Zealand (where it is usually known as Kentia Palm). Mostly found in old gardens and parks. Very slow growing. Most fruit is harvested by people before it matures.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
October–December
Fruiting
Year Round
Year naturalised
2003
Origin
Lord Howe Island
Reason for introduction
Ornamental.
Tolerances
Cold intolerant
Life cycle and dispersal
Long-lived perennial tree. Reproduces exclusively by seed. Seeds large, 20–40 mm long, somewhat fleshy, bright or dull red when ripe. Dispersed by gravity and possibly birds.
Other information
Etymology
howea: Named after Lord Howe Island where these palms are found.
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
HOWFOR
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Johnson AT, Smith HA. 1986. Plant Names Simplified: Their pronunciation, derivation and meaning. Landsman Bookshop Ltd, Buckenhill, UK.