Rhopalostylis is a genus of two species of palms native to the South Pacific. Both are smooth-trunked, with regular ringed scars from fallen leaves. The leaves are 3–5 m in length, and the leaf bases encircle the trunk.
| Rhopalostylis | |
|---|---|
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| Flowers and fruit of Rhopalostylis sapida | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Subfamily: | Arecoideae |
| Tribe: | Areceae |
| Subtribe: | Rhopalostylidinae |
| Genus: | Rhopalostylis H.Wendl. & Drude[1] |
| Species | |
Distribution
editRhopalostylis baueri occurs on Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands northeast of New Zealand; the Kermadec Islands population, formerly separated as R. cheesemanii, was included in R. baueri in 2005 after comparison revealed no significant differences. R. sapida, known as the nikau palm, is the only palm native to mainland New Zealand, and is found in lowland forests in the North Island, in coastal areas of the South Island as far south as Banks Peninsula, and on the Chatham Islands at 44°S. R. sapida thus has the southernmost range of any palm genus.
Classification
editSubfamily: Arecoideae; tribe: Areceae; subtribe: Rhopalostylidinae. Rhopalostylis is closely related to the Lord Howe Island genus Hedyscepe.
Species
edit| Image | Trunk | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rhopalostylis baueri | Norfolk Island palm, niau, Kermadec nikau | Norfolk Island (Australia) and Kermadec Islands (New Zealand) |
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Rhopalostylis sapida | Nīkau | New Zealand the North Island, and on the South Island as far south as Okarito, west and Banks Peninsula in the east. Chatham Island and Pitt Island/Rangiauria |
References
edit- ^ H.A. Wendland & Drude, Linnaea 39:180, 234. 1875 Type:R. baueri
- de Lange, P.J.; Gardner, R.O.; Crowcroft, G.M.; Stalker, F.; Cameron, E.K.; Braggins, J.E; Christian, M.L. 2005: Vascular flora of Norfolk Island: some additions and taxonomic notes. New Zealand Journal of Botany 43: 563-596.
- "Trilepidea Newsletter (July 2005). (New names for the Kermadec nikau palm and Three Kings cabbage tree)" (PDF). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
- Kew palms checklist: Rhopalostylis