Tahina
Encyclopedia
The Tahina Palm is a rare species of gigantic palm
that is found only in the Analalava District
of northwestern Madagascar
. The species, which produces countless flowers and (after fruiting) dies, is sufficiently different from other known palms to justify the creation of the genus Tahina, which is now included with three other genera in the tribe Chuniophoeniceae; the other members being found in the Arabian peninsula, Thailand
and China
. Fewer than one hundred individuals of the species are thought to exist.
plantation manager Xavier Metz and his family, who were strolling through a remote northwestern region of Madagascar in 2007 when they came across a flowering individual and sent photos to the Kew Gardens for identification.
Its name is derived from "Tahina", a Malagasy word meaning "to be protected" or "blessed", being the given name of Anne-Tahina Metz, the daughter of its discoverer, while "spectabilis" means spectacular in Latin.
It was subsequently chosen as one of the top ten species discoveries of 2008 by the International Institute for Species Exploration.
estimates as occurring after 30 to 50 years, the stem tip grows a large inflorescence
that bursts into branches of hundreds of flowers. The drain on nutrients this display entails results in the death of the organism within several months.
The palm is the largest of the 170 palm species native to Madagascar, having a trunk up to 18 m (59.1 ft) tall and leaves which are over 5 m (16.4 ft) in diameter.
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
that is found only in the Analalava District
Analalava District
Analalava is a district in northern Madagascar. It's a part of Sofia Region and borders the districts ofAmbanja in northeast, Bealanana and Antsohihy in east and Boriziny in south. The area is and the population was estimated to be 89,917 in 2001.The district is further divided into 11...
of northwestern Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. The species, which produces countless flowers and (after fruiting) dies, is sufficiently different from other known palms to justify the creation of the genus Tahina, which is now included with three other genera in the tribe Chuniophoeniceae; the other members being found in the Arabian peninsula, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Fewer than one hundred individuals of the species are thought to exist.
Discovery
The palm was discovered by French cashewCashew
The cashew is a tree in the family Anacardiaceae. Its English name derives from the Portuguese name for the fruit of the cashew tree, caju, which in turn derives from the indigenous Tupi name, acajú. It is now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew nuts and cashew apples.-Etymology:The...
plantation manager Xavier Metz and his family, who were strolling through a remote northwestern region of Madagascar in 2007 when they came across a flowering individual and sent photos to the Kew Gardens for identification.
Its name is derived from "Tahina", a Malagasy word meaning "to be protected" or "blessed", being the given name of Anne-Tahina Metz, the daughter of its discoverer, while "spectabilis" means spectacular in Latin.
It was subsequently chosen as one of the top ten species discoveries of 2008 by the International Institute for Species Exploration.
Description
T. spectabilis normally appears much like other palms. However, when it flowers, which John Dransfield of the Royal Botanic Gardens, KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
estimates as occurring after 30 to 50 years, the stem tip grows a large inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
that bursts into branches of hundreds of flowers. The drain on nutrients this display entails results in the death of the organism within several months.
The palm is the largest of the 170 palm species native to Madagascar, having a trunk up to 18 m (59.1 ft) tall and leaves which are over 5 m (16.4 ft) in diameter.