The Hideaway Palmetum Archive has a new home
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A living archive of palms, passion, and preservation
The Hideaway Palmetum was created as both a collection and a story: a place where rare species stand beside familiar icons, where conservation meets curiosity, and where each palm is honored with its own page in this growing archive. What began as a few treasured specimens has grown into a record of life stretching across continents, a library of living green that connects the world’s tropics to one quiet corner of South Florida.
This project is more than a garden. It’s a celebration of diversity, a record of resilience, and a reminder that beauty thrives when we preserve and share it. From the Everglades paurotis palm — once nearly lost to overharvest — to towering island giants of the Pacific, each palm carries its own chapter of history, ecology, and culture in its leaves. In one place, you’ll find the palms that shaded ancient temples, sustained island communities, and still stand as symbols of endurance across the globe.
The Palmetum is also a story of people. Like Ella, who found inspiration in journeys across distant landscapes, or Eric, who turned curiosity and devotion into a living archive, the work behind these pages is a reflection of passion made tangible. Each entry here represents not just research and record-keeping, but care — hours of digging through archives, planting in sandy soil, and dreaming of a world where these species remain for generations to come.
Explore freely, wander through names and places, and discover how the world’s palms are linked together — by oceans, by winds, and now by story. From Caribbean coasts to Asian highlands, from the heart of the Amazon to your own backyard, the Hideaway Palmetum carries them all. Welcome — and may the palms inspire you as much as they inspire us.
Palmetum Species by Subfamily & Tribe
The following list includes all 121 palms in the Hideaway Palmetum collection, organized by subfamily and tribe. Each name links to its detailed page entry below.
Arecoideae
- Archontophoenix alexandrae
- Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
- Archontophoenix myolensis
- Archontophoenix purpurea
- Archontophoenix tuckeri
- Areca catechu
- Areca catechu "Dwarf"
- Areca guppyana
- Areca laosensis
- Areca oxycarpa
- Areca tunku
- Areca vestiaria
- Areca vestiaria 'Red form'
- Bentinckia nicobarica
- Burretiokentia hapala
- Burretiokentia vieillardii
- Calyptrocalyx albertisianus
- Calyptrocalyx hollrungii
- Calyptrocalyx leptostachys
- Calyptrocalyx pachystachys
- Carpentaria acuminata
- Carpoxylon macrospermum
- Chambeyronia macrocarpa "watermelon"
- Chambeyronia macrocarpa hookeri
- Chambeyronia oliviformis
- Chambeyronia pyriformis
- Chrysalidocarpus cabadae
- Chrysalidocarpus carlsmithii
- Chrysalidocarpus lanceolata
- Chrysalidocarpus leptocheilos
- Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
- Chrysalidocarpus pembana
- Cyphosperma balansae
- Cyrtostachys renda
- Deckenia nobilis
- Dypsis Sp. "Maroantsetra"
- Dypsis decaryi
- Heterospathe elata
- Hydriastele beguinii
- Neoveitchia storckii
- Nephrosperma van-houtteanum
- Normanbya normanbyi
- Phoenicophorium borsigianum
- Pinanga coronata
- Pinanga sp. "Thai Mottled"
- Pinanga sp. "Yellow Crownshaft"
- Ptychosperma caryotoides
- Ptychosperma elegans "Paddle Leaf"
- Ptychosperma furcatum
- Ptychosperma lauterbachii
- Ptychosperma macarthurii
- Ptychosperma salomonense
- Ptychosperma schefferi
- Satakentia liukiuensis
- Veitchia arecina
- Veitchia spiralis
- Veitchia vitiensis
- Vonitra fibrosa
- Vonitra utilis
Coryphoideae
- Acoelorrhaphe wrightii
- Coccothrinax argentata
- Coccothrinax argentea
- Coccothrinax barbadensis
- Coccothrinax borhidiana
- Coccothrinax clarensis
- Coccothrinax crinita
- Coccothrinax guantanamensis
- Coccothrinax inaguensis
- Coccothrinax macroglossa
- Coccothrinax miraguama
- Coccothrinax miraguama subsp. roseocarpa
- Coccothrinax montana
- Cryosophila warscewiczii
- Hemithrinax ekmaniana
- Itaya amicorum
- Leucothrinax morrisii
- Sabinaria magnifica
- Schippia concolor
- Thrinax radiata
- Zombia antillarum
Acoelorrhaphe wrightii
Paurotis palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A clustering, fan-leaf palm growing in wet, swampy areas. It forms multi-stemmed clumps up to about 5 m tall, with silver-undersided leaves and orange, armed petioles. It tolerates periodic flooding and is valued in landscape settings for its elegant form.
Native range: Florida (Everglades), Caribbean, Central America, southern Mexico.
Endemic: No.
Acrocomia crispa
Cuban belly palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A distinctive palm endemic to Cuba, notable for its “belly” or swollen trunk segments, with spiny petioles and pinnate leaves. Cultivated for its striking form and rarity in collections.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Acrocomia aculeata
Macaw palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, spiny palm widely distributed across tropical and subtropical America. It has pinnate leaves with spiny petioles and produces oil-rich fruits, sometimes cultivated as a biofuel source.
Native range: Southern Mexico to Paraguay and northern Argentina, also present in the Caribbean.
Endemic: No.
Actinorhytis calapparia
Calappa palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, robust palm native to New Guinea and nearby islands, with large pinnate leaves and clusters of red fruits. Valued as an ornamental and occasionally used in local construction.
Native range: New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands.
Endemic: No.
Adonidia merrillii
Christmas palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A small ornamental palm widely cultivated for its attractive crownshaft and bright red fruit during the holiday season, giving rise to its common name. Popular in tropical landscaping.
Native range: Philippines.
Endemic: Yes, Philippines.
Aiphanes horrida
Ruff palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A spiny palm with dense clusters of sharp black spines on the trunk and leaf stems. Often used ornamentally but requires careful handling due to its fierce armature.
Native range: Northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador).
Endemic: No.
Aiphanes minima
Tinkling palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A small, clustering palm with spiny stems and delicate fronds. Fruits produce a metallic “tinkling” sound when falling, giving the palm its common name. Sometimes grown ornamentally in the Caribbean.
Native range: Lesser Antilles (Caribbean).
Endemic: Yes, Lesser Antilles.
Allagoptera arenaria
Seashore palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A low-growing palm adapted to sandy coastal areas, forming clumps with arching leaves. Often used for dune stabilization and as a hardy ornamental in tropical and subtropical gardens.
Native range: Coastal Brazil.
Endemic: Yes, Brazil.
Allagoptera caudescens
Allagoptera caudescens
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm native to Brazil with slender stems and graceful, arching fronds. Grows in open scrub and savanna habitats and sometimes cultivated as an ornamental species.
Native range: Brazil.
Endemic: Yes, Brazil.
Archontophoenix alexandrae
Alexander palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, elegant palm with a smooth green crownshaft and pinnate leaves. Frequently planted in tropical and subtropical landscapes for its fast growth and graceful form.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
Bangalow palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall palm with a smooth green crownshaft and arching fronds. Commonly used as a street and garden tree in subtropical regions, particularly along the east coast of Australia.
Native range: Eastern Australia (New South Wales, Queensland).
Endemic: Yes, eastern Australia.
Archontophoenix myolensis
Myola palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm restricted to small populations in northern Queensland, Australia. Similar to other Archontophoenix species but distinguished by its local distribution and conservation concern.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Archontophoenix purpurea
Mount Lewis king palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: Known for the purplish color of its crownshaft, this palm is native to upland rainforests of Queensland. Grown ornamentally for its striking coloration and form.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Archontophoenix tuckeri
Tucker’s palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall palm native to Queensland rainforests. Similar to other Archontophoenix palms, but with distinctive local distribution. Cultivated for ornamental purposes.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Areca catechu
Betel nut palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender palm cultivated widely across Asia for its seeds (betel nuts), chewed with betel leaf. An economically and culturally important species with tall, smooth trunks.
Native range: Southeast Asia, Malay Peninsula, New Guinea.
Endemic: No.
Areca catechu ‘Dwarf’
Dwarf betel nut palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A cultivated dwarf form of the betel nut palm, selected for its shorter stature and easier management in ornamental landscapes.
Native range: Cultivar of Areca catechu (Southeast Asia origin).
Endemic: No (cultivated form).
Areca guppyana
Areca guppyana
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A lesser-known Areca species with limited range, cultivated occasionally in botanical collections. Displays pinnate fronds and slim stems.
Native range: Solomon Islands.
Endemic: Yes, Solomon Islands.
Areca laosensis
Areca laosensis
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A palm native to Laos, where it occurs in moist tropical forests. Rarely cultivated outside its range, valued for conservation importance.
Native range: Laos.
Endemic: Yes, Laos.
Areca oxycarpa
Areca oxycarpa
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender-trunked palm with graceful pinnate leaves, native to Southeast Asia. Rare in cultivation but maintained in collections for conservation.
Native range: Southeast Asia.
Endemic: No.
Areca tunku
Areca tunku
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare species from Southeast Asia, grown in some palm collections for its slender form and cultural significance.
Native range: Borneo and surrounding areas.
Endemic: No (Borneo distribution, shared with nearby regions).
Areca vestiaria
Orange crownshaft palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A striking palm distinguished by its orange crownshaft and petioles, highly ornamental in cultivation. Found in Sulawesi and nearby islands.
Native range: Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Endemic: Yes, Sulawesi.
Areca vestiaria ‘Red form’
Red crownshaft palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A selected form of Areca vestiaria notable for its deep red crownshaft, cultivated ornamentally. Popular in tropical gardens and collections.
Native range: Cultivar of Sulawesi species.
Endemic: No (cultivated selection).
Arenga hookeriana
Clustering fishtail palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A clustering palm with bipinnate leaves resembling fishtails. Grown ornamentally in Southeast Asia and valued for its dense growth habit.
Native range: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia).
Endemic: No.
Astrocaryum mexicanum
Chocho palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A spiny understorey palm with pinnate leaves, common in tropical forests of Mexico and Central America. Fruits are edible and locally utilized.
Native range: Mexico to Honduras.
Endemic: No.
Bentinckia nicobarica
Bentinckia palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm with slender stems and feathery fronds, native to the Nicobar Islands. Grown in collections for conservation and ornamental value.
Native range: Nicobar Islands, India.
Endemic: Yes, Nicobar Islands.
Bismarckia nobilis
Bismarck palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A massive palm with striking silver-blue, fan-shaped leaves. Widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical landscapes for its dramatic appearance.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Burretiokentia hapala
Burretiokentia hapala
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, slender palm with a green crownshaft, native to moist rainforests. Cultivated ornamentally in tropical collections.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Burretiokentia vieillardii
Burretiokentia vieillardii
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A stately palm from humid forests, with ringed stems and a green crownshaft. Maintained in collections for conservation.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Calyptrocalyx albertisianus
Calyptrocalyx albertisianus
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm with slender canes and red emergent leaves. Grown as an ornamental in tropical collections.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Calyptrocalyx hollrungii
Calyptrocalyx hollrungii
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: Small, clustering palm with slender stems and pinnate fronds, found in rainforests of Papua New Guinea.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Calyptrocalyx leptostachys
Calyptrocalyx leptostachys
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: Palm with slim, clustering stems and narrow inflorescences. Cultivated in specialty collections, native to rainforests.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Calyptrocalyx pachystachys
Calyptrocalyx pachystachys
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rainforest palm from Papua New Guinea with clustering growth and ornamental red-tinted new leaves. Sometimes cultivated.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Carpentaria acuminata
Carpentaria palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A fast-growing palm with slender, tall trunks and long pinnate fronds. Commonly planted as an ornamental street and garden tree in the tropics.
Native range: Northern Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Northern Australia.
Carpoxylon macrospermum
Carpoxylon palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, elegant palm with a swollen base and long feathery fronds, highly ornamental and rare in cultivation. Considered critically endangered in the wild.
Native range: Vanuatu.
Endemic: Yes, Vanuatu.
Chamaedorea cataractarum
Cat palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A small, clustering palm with arching fronds, often grown indoors or in shady tropical gardens. It thrives in moist, lowland habitats.
Native range: Mexico and Central America.
Endemic: No.
Chamaedorea ernesti-augusti
Fishtail palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering understory palm with broad, fishtail-shaped leaflets. Popular as a houseplant and shade garden ornamental.
Native range: Central America.
Endemic: No.
Chamaedorea metallica
Miniature fishtail palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A unique palm with single-stem growth and metallic-blue leaves shaped like a fishtail. Valued for indoor and shaded outdoor cultivation.
Native range: Mexico.
Endemic: Yes, Mexico.
Chamaedorea metallica "Split Leaf"
Split-leaf miniature fishtail palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A cultivated variant of Chamaedorea metallica, with split leaf tips that enhance its ornamental appeal.
Native range: Mexico (cultivar origin).
Endemic: No (cultivar).
Chamaedorea oblongata
Chamaedorea oblongata
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender-stemmed understory palm, little-known in cultivation but present in humid forests of Central America.
Native range: Central America.
Endemic: No.
Chamaedorea seifrizii
Bamboo palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A popular houseplant and shade palm with clumping stems resembling bamboo. Grown widely indoors and outdoors in warm regions.
Native range: Mexico and Central America.
Endemic: No.
Chambeyronia (Kentiopsis) oliviformis
Chambeyronia oliviformis
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: Palm with a ringed trunk and green crownshaft, endemic to New Caledonia, where it grows in rainforest habitats.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Chambeyronia (Kentiopsis) pyriformis
Chambeyronia pyriformis
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare species from New Caledonia with slender stems and distinctive pear-shaped fruits. Highly endangered in the wild.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Chambeyronia macrocarpa "Watermelon"
Flame thrower palm (watermelon variety)
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: Known for its newly emerging bright red fronds and attractive mottled crownshaft resembling watermelon skin. A striking ornamental palm, endemic to New Caledonia.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Chambeyronia macrocarpa hookeri
Hooker’s flame thrower palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A recognized form of the flame thrower palm, with subtle differences in growth habit and frond color intensity. Also endemic to New Caledonia.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Chrysalidocarpus carlsmithii
Chrysalidocarpus carlsmithii
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A lesser-known species of Dypsis/Chrysalidocarpus, cultivated as an ornamental palm. Limited information is available compared to its more popular relatives.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis) cabadae
Cabada palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm with slender green stems and pinnate fronds, popular in cultivation for hedges and screening. It lacks the golden canes of the common Areca palm.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis) lanceolata
Chrysalidocarpus lanceolata
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm from Madagascar with narrow, lanceolate leaflets. Limited presence in cultivation and threatened in the wild.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis) leptocheilos
Teddy bear palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, solitary palm with a velvety reddish crownshaft and gracefully arching leaves. Cultivated widely as an ornamental in tropical regions.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis) lutescens
Areca palm, butterfly palm, golden cane palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A highly popular clustering palm with bright yellow-green stems and graceful fronds. Extensively used in landscaping and as a houseplant worldwide.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis) pembana
Pemba palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm found on Pemba Island, cultivated occasionally for its ornamental value. Related to the popular golden cane palm.
Native range: Pemba Island, Tanzania.
Endemic: Yes, Pemba Island.
Coccothrinax inaguensis
Inagua silver thatch palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Compact fan palm with distinct silvery leaf undersides; traditionally used for thatching and weaving on the Inagua islands.
Native range: Bahamas (Great & Little Inagua).
Endemic: Yes, Bahamas.
Coccothrinax argentea
Hispaniola silver thatch palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Small, slow-growing fan palm with vivid silver-white leaf undersides; ornamental and used locally for craftwork.
Native range: Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti).
Endemic: Yes, Hispaniola.
Coccothrinax argentata
Florida silver palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Graceful small fan palm with slender trunk and silvery leaf undersides; native to coastal Florida and nearby islands.
Native range: SE Florida, Bahamas, Cuba.
Endemic: No.
Coccothrinax barbadensis
Barbados silver palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Medium-sized fan palm with rigid leaves; widespread in parts of the Lesser Antilles and coastal Venezuela.
Native range: Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, coastal Venezuela.
Endemic: No.
Coccothrinax borhidiana
Guano barbudo
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Rare Cuban fan palm with fibrous, “bearded” leaf bases; highly localized and conservation-sensitive.
Native range: Cuba (Matanzas Province).
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Coccothrinax clarensis
Clarens silver palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Small Cuban fan palm with neat crown and silvery undersides; occurs in the central-eastern parts of the island.
Native range: Cuba (Holguín, Camagüey region).
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Coccothrinax crinita
Old man palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Distinctive Cuban palm with shaggy, fibrous trunk “beard”; slow-growing and prized ornamentally.
Native range: Western Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Coccothrinax guantanamensis
Guantánamo silver palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Localized fan palm of far-eastern Cuba; upright habit with bright, reflective leaf undersides.
Native range: Cuba (Guantánamo region).
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Coccothrinax macroglossa
Broad-leaved silver palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Cuban fan palm notable for its broader segments compared to related species; cultivated as an ornamental.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Coccothrinax miraguama
Miraguama palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Classic Cuban silver palm complex with multiple subspecies; historically valued for fiber and thatch.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Coccothrinax miraguama subsp. roseocarpa
Rose-fruited miraguama palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A subspecies of C. miraguama, notable for its distinctive rose-colored fruit; restricted to Cuba.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Coccothrinax montana
Hispaniola mountain palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A fan palm restricted to mountainous regions of Hispaniola; adapted to rocky slopes and drier conditions.
Native range: Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti).
Endemic: Yes, Hispaniola.
Cocos nucifera "Panama Tall"
Panama tall coconut
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall-growing cultivar of coconut palm, widely planted for copra, ornamental use, and coastal stabilization; resistant to some diseases compared with dwarf forms.
Native range: Cultivated worldwide; origin uncertain (Indo-Pacific).
Endemic: No.
Cocos nucifera "Yellow Malayan Dwarf Coconut"
Yellow Malayan dwarf coconut
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A dwarf coconut cultivar with yellow-green crownshafts and shorter stature, valued for early fruiting and suitability in smaller landscapes.
Native range: Cultivated worldwide; origin in Malayan Peninsula.
Endemic: No (cultivar).
Corphia utan
Gebang palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A large fan palm with massive leaves, cultivated and used traditionally for thatching and sugar extraction from the sap. Also known as Corypha utan.
Native range: Tropical Asia to Northern Australia.
Endemic: No.
Cyphosperma balansae
New Caledonia cyphosperma
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare, slender palm with pinnate leaves and green crownshaft, restricted to humid forests of New Caledonia.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Cryosophila warscewiczii
Cryosophila warscewiczii
Common name: Root spine palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A medium-sized understory palm with distinctive white root spines and fan-shaped leaves, valued as an ornamental curiosity.
Native range: Central America (from southern Mexico to Honduras).
Endemic: No.
Cyrtostachys renda
Sealing wax palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A striking clustering palm known for its brilliant scarlet crownshafts and leaf stalks, highly sought after in tropical landscaping.
Native range: Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, and New Guinea.
Endemic: No.
Deckenia nobilis
Deckenia nobilis
Common name: Palmiste marron
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare solitary palm with spiny leaf bases, endemic to the granitic islands of Seychelles; formerly threatened by overharvesting.
Native range: Seychelles.
Endemic: Yes, Seychelles.
Dictyosperma album var. conjugatum
Hurricane palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A graceful ornamental palm with a slender trunk and feathery fronds, native to the Mascarene Islands. It is wind-resistant and widely planted in the tropics.
Native range: Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues).
Endemic: Yes, Mascarenes.
Drymophloeus oliviformis
Olive fruit palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender palm with clustered stems and glossy green leaves; fruits are small and olive-like, giving the species its name.
Native range: New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, New Guinea.
Dypsis decaryi
Triangle palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A striking palm with a unique triangular stem arrangement of its fronds, creating three vertical ranks. Popular as an ornamental specimen.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Dypsis sp. "Maroantsetra"
Maroantsetra dypsis
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: An undescribed Dypsis species from the Maroantsetra region, known in horticulture for its rarity and graceful pinnate fronds.
Native range: Madagascar (Maroantsetra).
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Elaeis guineensis
African oil palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A highly significant palm cultivated worldwide for palm oil, with massive pinnate fronds and clusters of oil-rich fruits.
Native range: West and Central Africa.
Endemic: No.
Gaussia attenuata
Puerto Rican gaussia
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender palm adapted to karst limestone hills of Puerto Rico, with smooth gray trunk and graceful fronds.
Native range: Puerto Rico.
Endemic: Yes, Puerto Rico.
Gaussia gomez-pompae
Gaussia gomez-pompae
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A lesser-known species of Gaussia with clustering habit, described from Mexico and noted for adaptation to limestone soils.
Native range: Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula).
Endemic: Yes, Yucatán Peninsula.
Gaussia princeps
Palma de sierra
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare, slender palm with bright green pinnate leaves, native to steep limestone hills of Cuba.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Hemithrinax ekmaniana
Cuban blue palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A small fan palm notable for its bluish leaves and growth on exposed limestone outcrops in Cuba. Rare and highly localized.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Heterospathe elata
Heterospathe palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm with slender trunks and arching fronds, grown ornamentally in tropical gardens. Fruits are bright red when mature.
Native range: Philippines.
Endemic: Yes, Philippines.
Hydriastele beguinii
Hydriastele beguinii
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall rainforest palm with smooth gray trunk and feathery crownshaft. Adapted to humid lowland habitats of New Guinea.
Native range: New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, New Guinea.
Hyophorbe lagenicaulis
Bottle palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A small ornamental palm with a swollen, bottle-shaped trunk and arching pinnate leaves. Widely grown in tropical and subtropical gardens.
Native range: Mascarene Islands (Round Island, Mauritius).
Endemic: Yes, Round Island.
Hyophorbe verschaffeltii
Spindle palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: An elegant palm with spindle-shaped trunk and graceful arching fronds. Valued ornamentally and closely related to the bottle palm.
Native range: Mascarene Islands (Rodrigues).
Endemic: Yes, Rodrigues Island.
Hyphaene compressa
Doum palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A branching palm with multiple heads, producing edible oval fruits. An important species in arid and semi-arid regions of East Africa.
Native range: East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia).
Endemic: No.
Itaya amicorum
Itaya palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm with broad leaflets and clustering habit, discovered in the Peruvian Amazon and cultivated for conservation interest.
Native range: Peru.
Endemic: Yes, Peru.
Latania lontaroides
Red latan palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A robust fan palm with large leaves and reddish leaf bases in youth. An ornamental species also important for conservation.
Native range: Réunion (Mascarene Islands).
Endemic: Yes, Réunion.
Leucothrinax morrisii
Key thatch palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A small fan palm native to the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, used traditionally for thatching. Previously grouped under Thrinax.
Native range: Florida Keys, Bahamas, Greater Antilles.
Endemic: No.
Licuala grandis
Ruffled fan palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: An ornamental fan palm with perfectly circular, pleated leaves. Very popular in tropical landscaping and houseplant trade.
Native range: Vanuatu.
Endemic: Yes, Vanuatu.
Licuala mattanensis "Mapu"
Mapu fan palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A rare ornamental palm with mottled leaves marked in yellow and green, highly prized by collectors.
Native range: Borneo.
Endemic: Yes, Borneo.
Licuala spinosa
Spiny licuala palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A clustering fan palm with spiny petioles and attractive rounded leaves, often growing in swampy or wetland habitats.
Native range: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Borneo, Philippines).
Endemic: No.
Licuala sp. Kalimantan Mottled
Kalimantan mottled licuala
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A rare ornamental licuala with dramatic mottled foliage, native to Kalimantan. Highly prized in collections.
Native range: Kalimantan (Borneo, Indonesia).
Endemic: Yes, Kalimantan.
Neoveitchia storckii
Veitch’s palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall palm with prominent crownshaft and arching fronds, rare in cultivation but striking in form.
Native range: Fiji.
Endemic: Yes, Fiji.
Nephrosperma van-houtteanum
Nephrosperma palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A solitary palm with slender trunk and feathery leaves, native to the Seychelles and threatened by habitat loss.
Native range: Seychelles.
Endemic: Yes, Seychelles.
Normanbya normanbyi
Black palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall palm with smooth, dark trunk and glossy pinnate leaves. Traditionally used by Aboriginal Australians for food and tools.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Pelagodoxa henryana
Pelagodoxa palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare and beautiful palm with broad leaves, considered highly ornamental. Cultivated in specialty collections.
Native range: Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia).
Endemic: Yes, Marquesas Islands.
Phoenicophorium borsigianum
Thief palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A solitary palm with large, red-tinted leaves, endemic to the Seychelles. Named "thief palm" from historic accounts of stealing leaves for roofing.
Native range: Seychelles.
Endemic: Yes, Seychelles.
Phoenix roebelenii
Pygmy date palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A small ornamental date palm with graceful arching leaves, widely planted in tropical and subtropical regions. Known for compact growth habit.
Native range: Laos, Vietnam, southern China.
Endemic: No.
Pinanga coronata
Ivory cane palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering understory palm with slender canes and glossy green leaves. Fruits ripen red, cultivated as an ornamental.
Native range: Indonesia (Java, Sumatra, Bali).
Endemic: No.
Pinanga sp. "Thai Mottled"
Thai mottled pinanga
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: An ornamental palm with striking mottled foliage, popular with collectors and suited for shade cultivation.
Native range: Thailand.
Endemic: Yes, Thailand.
Pinanga sp. "Yellow Crownshaft"
Yellow crownshaft pinanga
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare ornamental pinanga with yellow crownshaft, cultivated in collections for its distinctive color.
Native range: Southeast Asia.
Endemic: No.
Pritchardia pacifica
Fiji fan palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A handsome fan palm with broad, round leaves, commonly used in ornamental plantings across the Pacific. It is also culturally significant in Fiji.
Native range: Fiji.
Endemic: Yes, Fiji.
Pritchardia remota
Nihoa fan palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A rare and endangered fan palm endemic to Nihoa Island, Hawaii. Notable for its stiff fan leaves and isolated distribution.
Native range: Nihoa Island, Hawaiian Islands.
Endemic: Yes, Hawaii (Nihoa Island).
Pseudophoenix sargentii
Buccaneer palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slow-growing palm with a solitary, stout trunk and pinnate leaves. Known for its tolerance of coastal conditions and endangered status in parts of its range.
Native range: Florida Keys, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America.
Endemic: No.
Pseudophoenix vinifera
Wine palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A palm native to Hispaniola, historically tapped for its sap to make palm wine, which has led to population decline. It has a swollen trunk base and pinnate fronds.
Native range: Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti).
Endemic: Yes, Hispaniola.
Ptychosperma caryotoides
Fish-tail palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm with fishtail-shaped leaflets, resembling those of Caryota, hence the name. Grown as an ornamental palm.
Native range: New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, New Guinea.
Ptychosperma elegans
Solitaire palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender, solitary palm commonly planted as an ornamental in the tropics and subtropics. It has graceful pinnate leaves and clusters of red fruits.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Ptychosperma furcatum
Furcate palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm with bifurcated (split) leaflets, unique among its genus. Rarely seen in cultivation.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Ptychosperma lauterbachii
Lauterbach’s palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm with slender stems and pinnate fronds, sometimes cultivated in botanical collections.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Ptychosperma macarthurii
MacArthur palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering ornamental palm with slender stems and graceful pinnate fronds. Named after Sir William Macarthur of Australia. Widely grown in cultivation.
Native range: Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: No.
Ptychosperma salomonense
Solomon Islands palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A palm native to the Solomon Islands, cultivated in limited collections outside its range. It has slender stems and pinnate leaves.
Native range: Solomon Islands.
Endemic: Yes, Solomon Islands.
Ptychosperma schefferi
Scheffer’s palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm of New Guinea, sometimes recognized by its elegant fronds and limited presence in collections. Poorly known in cultivation.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Sabinaria magnifica
Sabinaria palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A striking, recently described palm known for its large, deeply divided leaves that resemble butterfly wings. Highly ornamental but rare in cultivation.
Native range: Colombia–Panama border region.
Endemic: Yes, Darien Gap region.
Satakentia liukiuensis
Satake palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, elegant palm with smooth gray trunk and arching fronds, cultivated for its striking appearance in subtropical gardens.
Native range: Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, Yaeyama group (Japan).
Endemic: Yes, Japan (Yaeyama Islands).
Schippia concolor
Schippia palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A small fan palm with slender stems and simple inflorescences. Rare in cultivation, but important as part of Central American palm flora.
Native range: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras.
Endemic: No.
Serenoa repens
Saw palmetto
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A low-growing, clumping fan palm with creeping stems and sharp leaf petioles. It is ecologically important in Florida scrub habitats and widely known for its medicinal berries.
Native range: Southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi).
Endemic: No.
Thrinax radiata
Florida thatch palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A graceful fan palm with slender trunk and rounded leaves, valued for thatching and ornamental use in coastal landscapes. Naturally salt-tolerant and resilient to storms.
Native range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Central America.
Endemic: No.
Veitchia arecina
Veitchia palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall ornamental palm with smooth gray trunk and feathery crownshafted leaves, cultivated for its elegant form in tropical landscapes.
Native range: Vanuatu.
Endemic: Yes, Vanuatu.
Veitchia spiralis
Veitchia spiralis palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A robust palm with arching, spiral-arranged fronds and a straight, solitary trunk. Rare in cultivation but admired for its striking habit.
Native range: Vanuatu.
Endemic: Yes, Vanuatu.
Veitchia vitiensis
Fiji veitchia palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A palm native to Fiji with a crownshaft and pinnate leaves, planted ornamentally in Pacific landscapes. Distinct for its regional adaptation and upright form.
Native range: Fiji.
Endemic: Yes, Fiji.
Vonitra utilis
Vonitra palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A tall palm with fan-shaped leaves and strong trunks, native to Madagascar. It is sometimes used locally for construction materials.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Vonitra fibrosa
Vonitra palm (fibrous)
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A closely related species to Vonitra utilis, noted for its fibrous trunk material and fan leaves. Grows in drier habitats of Madagascar.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Zombia antillarum
Zombi palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A clustering fan palm with spiny stems, forming dense thickets. Known for its striking silhouette and resilience in Caribbean climates.
Native range: Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti).
Endemic: Yes, Hispaniola.
Appendix — Palmetum Taxonomy Sources
The following references were used to establish subfamily and tribe classifications for all palms in the Hideaway Palmetum. Synonymies and corrections (e.g., Dypsis ↔ Chrysalidocarpus, Kentiopsis ↔ Chambeyronia) are noted where applicable. This reference log ensures transparent alignment with accepted botanical backbones (POWO / Catalogue of Life).
-
General Backbone:
POWO (2025). Plants of the World Online, facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. powo.science.kew.org
Catalogue of Life (2025 release). -
Chrysalidocarpus ↔ Dypsis:
Dypsis lutescens accepted as Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (POWO 2025, Eiserhardt et al. 2022).
Source: POWO; RBG Kew Madagascar palms checklist. -
Chamaedoreeae composition:
Genera: Chamaedorea, Gaussia, Hyophorbe.
Subfamily Arecoideae, Tribe Chamaedoreeae.
Source: Wikipedia “Chamaedoreeae”. -
Cryosophileae composition:
Genera: Coccothrinax, Thrinax, Leucothrinax, Hemithrinax, Zombia, Schippia, Cryosophila, Itaya, Sabinaria.
Subfamily Coryphoideae, Tribe Cryosophileae.
Source: Wikipedia “Cryosophileae”; Missouri Botanical Garden references. -
Borasseae composition:
Genera: Bismarckia, Hyphaene, Latania.
Subfamily Coryphoideae, Tribe Borasseae.
Source: Wikipedia “Borasseae”. -
Cocoseae composition:
Genera: Cocos, Elaeis, Acrocomia, Astrocaryum, Aiphanes.
Subfamily Arecoideae, Tribe Cocoseae.
Sources: Merwin Conservancy palm monograph; iNaturalist dataset. -
Corypha correction:
“Corphia utan” corrected to Corypha utan (POWO accepted).
Tribe Corypheae (Coryphoideae).
Source: Wikipedia “Corypha utan”. -
Kentiopsis synonymy:
Kentiopsis oliviformis → Chambeyronia oliviformis.
Kentiopsis pyriformis → Chambeyronia pyriformis.
Endemic to New Caledonia.
Source: Wikipedia “Chambeyronia”; POWO. -
Pelagodoxa:
Tribe Pelagodoxeae (Arecoideae).
Source: Wikipedia “Pelagodoxa henryana”; POWO. -
Vonitra:
Vonitra utilis, Vonitra fibrosa → Subfamily Arecoideae, Tribe Areceae, Subtribe Dypsidinae.
Source: Kew Madagascar palm checklist (iro.bl.uk). -
Acoelorrhaphe:
Acoelorrhaphe wrightii placed in Cryosophileae (Coryphoideae).
Source: POWO; Flora Neotropica.
Record Type: Hideaway Palmetum — Taxonomy Reference Log
Prepared October 2025 · Eric D. Graham with ChatGPT assistance