Arecaceae FAMILY Critically Endangered

Dypsis canaliculata

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The apical bud of this plant is believed to be toxic by some people[ 763 Title Heart of Palm Use: A Family Survey Publication Author Scott Zona, Ph.D. Website http://www.virtualherbarium.org/palmresearch/Hearts_of_Palm_table.html Publisher Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Virtual Herbarium. Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line article listing the botanical names and range of palm trees that have an edible apical bud. ].

Botanical Description

Dypsis canaliculata is a solitary-stemmed evergreen palm growing 10 - 15 metres tall. The unbranched stem can be 30 - 40cm wide, topped by a crown of leaves that can each be 3 - 4 metres long[ 455 Title Flore de Madagascar et des Comores Publication Author Humbert H. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle; Paris Year 1946 - 1984 ISBN Description Written in French, an excellent flora of the area though it has not been completed. Available for download from the Internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. This is a rare palm as the three known subpopulations are extremely fragmented and in two of the sites the number of individuals is unknown - although in a recently discovered site fewer than ten individuals have been found. Deforestation for expanding agriculture and selective logging is a major threat and the species is also selectively cut for its edible bud. The plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeAfrica - northwestern and central eastern Madagascar.

HabitatLowland rainforest[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].