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Arenga pinnata

(Wurmb) Merr. (1917)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Arecales Family: Arecaceae Genus: Arenga

sugar palm

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Tree to 20 m tall.

Stems: Stems solitary, 40–60 cm in diam.

Roots: Roots fibrous.

Leaves: Leaves appearing pinnately compound due to secondary splitting of the blade. Rachis to 5 m; pinnae to 150 per side of rachis, linear, with ears at bases, irregularly arranged and spreading in different planes; middle pinnae 120-160 cm, 5-9 cm wide at mid-point. Leaflet apices jagged. Leaflet bases with an ear-shaped projection overlapping rachis. Petioles usually covered with distinctive scales 1.5 m long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Inflorescences to 2.5 m; male rachillae 40-50, to 40 cm. Male flowers 12-15 mm; sepals ca. 5 mm; petals ca. 12 mm; stamens 60-120. Female rachillae 40-50, ca. 30 cm; female flowers 10 mm; sepals ca. 2 mm; petals ca. 4 mm.

Fruit: Fruits greenish; yellowish; or orangish; globose to ovoid; to 7 × 6 cm.

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

O'ahu Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Pollinators

Specimens

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Bibliography

Name Published In: Interpr. Herb. Amboin.: 119 (1917)

Other References

Daehler & Baker 2006:5 (NEWNAT/O, DESCR); Parker & Parsons 2012b:66 (H)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Arenga pinnata Honolulu, Foster Gardens Preserved_Specimen fruit dull red brown Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1961-02-21
2 Arenga pinnata Kamehameha Schools, by parking lot Preserved_Specimen Dead tree 40 x 1 ft., not stoloniferous; lfts. seem uniauriculate at base, petioles present from top to base; infl. large, mostly 4' long, + male & female flwrs. One frt & sketch. Alvaro, D. Oahu BISH 1954-12-17
3 Arenga pinnata Honolulu: Foster Botanic Gardens Preserved_Specimen Tall palm 25+ ft.; lfts. 2-3' long, 2-auricled at base, prd. 1-1.5 apart, 1.5+ wide; petiole 1' long, smooth, sheath + black hairs; male flwrs on ground; frt is typical A. pinnata. A single tree but would form clumps if allowed. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1963-08-22
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