Dypsis pembana
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Related on Lably
Through Endemism, Inflorescence and Tourism
This is one of the few Dypsis/Chrysalidocarpus species found outside of Madagascar.
Distribution and habitat
D. pembana is known only from two locations on Pemba Island, Tanzania, where it grows in moist evergreen lowland and littoral forests at up to 50 m (160 ft) above sea level.
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Description
D. pembana is a clustering palm growing 4–12 m (13–39 ft) tall. The stems are pale brown to green in colour and prominently ringed with leaf scars, measuring 6–15 cm (2.4–5.9 in) in diameter with internodes up to 24 cm (9.4 in) long. The arching, waxy green leaves are composed of a rachis up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long with 40-50 leaflets on either side. The branched inflorescence is borne on a peduncle measuring approximately 60 cm (24 in) long which may lengthen by up to 40% when fruiting. The dark red fruit measure 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) by 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in).
Conservation status
D. pembana is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature under criterion D2, based on its restricted area of occupancy and small population. It may be threatened by the expansion of tourist infrastructure on Pemba, however, the main subpopulation is located within a protected area, Ngezi Forest Reserve.