Howea belmoreana
Curly Palm
Curly Palm
Wikipedia links: Angiosperms > Monocots > Arecales > Arecaceae > Howea belmoreana
Other links:
Common name: Curly Palm
Also, kentia palm, or Belmore sentry palm
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Etymology:
The genus name, Howea, comes from the island's name
Flowers
Fruit:
Leaves:
The mature canopy spreads 2–3 m in diameter and contains roughly 36 leaves
Stem & branches:
Roots:
Habit:
Habitat:
Howea belmoreana is restricted to the volcanic soils on Lord Howe Island, whereas H. forsteriana is found on both alkaline calcareous and volcanic soils, the two most common soil types found on the island
Howea belmoreana is more common on volcanic soils and has a higher survival rate than H. forsteriana
Distribution:
Endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia
Additional notes:
Evolution
Howea belmoreana is a species of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae
It and Howea forsteriana probably evolved from a common ancestor through sympatric speciation
Osborne et al. (2018) suggest that the speciation of H. forsteriana and Howea belmoreana is partially a result of difference in arbuscular mycorrhiza based on soil type
The levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were significantly lower in the roots of Howea forsteriana on volcanic soil, compared to the same species on calcareous soil and to Howea belmoreana on the same volcanic soil
The symbiotic relationship between the plant and the fungi exchanges carbons from the plant for essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate that would be otherwise inaccessible to the plant
The decreased fungal relationships in Howea forsteriana in volcanic soil may disadvantage it compared to Howea belmoreana
Howea belmoreana has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit
Sources of information: