Lepidorrhachis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lepidorrhachis |
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| Little Mountain Palm at 820 metres above sea level in the cloud forest at Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island | |
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Lepidorrhachis
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| Species: |
mooreana
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| Lepidorrhachis is endemic to Lord Howe Island | |
The Little Mountain Palm (scientific name: Lepidorrhachis mooreana) is a special type of palm tree. It's the only species in its group, called a monotypic genus. This means it's the only kind of palm in the Lepidorrhachis genus. This unique palm tree grows only on Lord Howe Island, a small island in the Pacific Ocean. The name Lepidorrhachis comes from two Greek words meaning "scale" and "rachis". The second part of its name, mooreana, honors Charles Moore, who was the first director of the Sydney Botanical Gardens.
What the Little Mountain Palm Looks Like
These small palm trees have a single trunk. They can grow up to 3.5 meters (about 11.5 feet) tall. Their trunks are about 15 centimeters (6 inches) wide. You can see clear rings on the trunk where old leaves used to be. The bottom of the trunk is green, and it usually turns grey closer to the top.
The leaves of the Little Mountain Palm are about 1.5 meters (5 feet) long. They are pinnate, which means they have many smaller leaflets arranged along a central stem, like a feather. These leaves arch upwards and outwards. Each leaflet is shaped like a spearhead and is about 60 centimeters (2 feet) long. They can be medium to dark green. When the palm gets older, some leaflets might hang down a little. The leaves, leaf stalks (petioles), and main leaf stems (rachises) are often covered with small scales.
The palm's flowers grow on a short, thick, and very branched stem called an inflorescence. This stem grows out from below the main crown of leaves. It has both male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers. Each flower has three sepals (small leaf-like parts that protect the bud) and three petals. The fruit of this palm is round or almost round. It turns red when it's ripe and contains one seed. These fruits are known to attract rats.
Where the Little Mountain Palm Lives
The Little Mountain Palm only grows on Lord Howe Island. You can find it high up on the Gower and Lidgbird mountains. It grows in cloud forests at elevations of 800 meters (about 2,600 feet) and higher. These areas are always cool, windy, and very moist. The palm can grow in different types of soil. However, it cannot survive in frosty conditions.
See also
In Spanish: Lepidorrhachis mooreana para niños
