New Year Quiz

Test your knowledge of palms and other exotics in this seasonal quiz.
The Fox
Chamaerops No.32 Autumn 1998

Here's a New Year Quiz to test your knowledge of the exotic plants that we all love to grow. Some questions are easy, some are more challenging, one or two are not as obvious as they seem. Answers to "Competition" at The Palm Centre (see inside front cover), or by fax or email. They must arrive by the end of January 1999. All replies will be passed to the author, and a prize will be awarded to the person with the most correct answers. The winner's name, together with all the correct answers will be published in the next issue of Chamaerops. Please enter, and best of luck!

1. On which of the following islands would you find Juania australis growing in the wild?
a. Christmas Island
b. Easter Island
c. Robinson Crusoe Island
d. Tasmania

2. "Ascolona", "Cucco", and "Morailo" are all:
a. Varieties of Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco)
b. Varieties of Olea europa (Olive)
c. Varieties of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
d. Varieties of Cocos nucifera

3. I am the smallest known species of Trachycarpus. What is my specie name?

4. Among the souvenirs you bring hack from your Mediterranean holiday are "Souvenir d'Auguste Roger" and "Souvenir des Iles Canaries" which are both varieties of an evergreen species very common in all warm-temperate climates and grown mainly for their flowers, which may be scented. They can also grow in the mildest areas of the British Isles such as Central London but need a warm, sunny position to flower well. In warm climates they are frequently used for a hedge. Name that species!

5. "Cerifera" is a particularly blue form of which of the following:
a. Bismarckia nobilis
b. Brahea armata
c. Chamaedorea metallica
d. Chamaerops humilis

6. "Rouge de Bordeaux" is a variety of which of the following:
a. Apple (Malus domesticus)
b. Fig (Ficus carica)
c. Culinary grape (Vitis vinifera)
d. Wine producing grape (Vitis vinifera)

7. Help! I am a mixed-up palm suffering from a severe identity crisis! My "mother" was Butia capitata and my "father" was Syagrus romanzoffiana. What is my name?

8. My family is Proteacea and I am an edible nut! Two of my species (and their hybrids) are grown commercially in several countries. I have been cultivated in Hawaii for over a hundred years but originate elsewhere. What is my genus?

9. I too belong to the family Proteacea and guess what? I am also an edible nut! Unlike my relative I am not grown commercially on a large scale so don't expect to find me in the Nut Department of your local supermarket. I am hardier than my distant cousin and have been grown for many years in the milder parts of the British Isles for my attractive, shiny, pinnate, evergreen foliage. I prefer a woodland, or semi-shaded position and enjoy moist but well-drained soil. What is my name?

10. You are visiting an exotic garden in one of the warmest areas of the Mediterranean. In front of you, you suddenly notice 'Niño'. It is which of the following:
a. An approaching hurricane
b. A compact form of Arenga pinnata
c. A compact form of Cocos nucifera
d. A male pollinating variety of Phoenix
dactylifera

11. Which is the only true aquatic palm:
a. Metroxylon sagu
b. Nypa fruticans
c. Ravenea musicalis
d. Ravenea rivularis

12. Delonix regia (Flamboyant):
a. Can succeed in the Mediterranean area
b. Can only succeed in the tropics
c. Can succeed in the Mediterranean area providing the variety is the high altitude form D. regia "Drakensburg".
d. Is commonly planted as a street tree in Munchen Gladbach
Which of the above is the only true statement?

13. Why is Lambertia formosa also known as the "Mountain Devil". Is it because:
a. The red flowers can, under certain climatic conditions, glow at night, causing alarm to the unwary?
b. Eating the seeds causes hallucinations? c. As they ripen, the seeds explode with a high-pitched "scream"?
d. The seed pods are sometimes sold as curios because they have a very curious appearance?

14. A certain palm from oases in the Sudan and Egypt was seen in 1964 and not for many years afterwards, and was considered by many to be extinct until found again by two members of the European Palm Society in 1995. Name that palm!

15. Cruising in your Cadillac southwards from Santa Barbara, you drive through Southern California enjoying the views. Which of the following would you be most likely to see planted as a street tree:
a. Brahea edulis
b. Cocos nucifera
c. Phoenix reclinata
d. Trachycarpus deleuzei

16. Whoops! A small quantity of general purpose fertilizer (NPK 7-7-7) was accidentally spilt next to your specimen of Beaufortia sparsa. Several days later the growing tips turned brown and withered. Fortunately, the plant eventually recovered. Which of the following explanations is correct? The damage was caused by:
a. An excess of Nitrate (N)
b. An excess of Phosphate (P)
c. An excess of Potash (K)
d. The combination of all three, because Beaufortia sparsa requires an extremely poor soil low in all nutrients

17. Shopping in Gothenburg, Sweden, you visit a large store and are very impressed by a fine display of many Citrus fruit. However, you are unable to find an example of "Meyer's Lemon" (C. meyeri) and you ask the manageress for an explanation. Her reply is that:
a. As is the case with certain wines, "Meyer's Lemon" does not travel well and is therefore rarely, if ever, imported into Europe.
b. It is not legal to offer "Meyer's Lemon" in the E. U. because it is not an approved variety.
c. Although often grown by amateurs this variety has never been considered suitable, or grown for commercial production.
d. Virtually the entire crop is purchased by a French monastery: the peel being one of the ingredients of a very famous liqueur

18. I am an evergreen shrub with glossy attractive foliage and can grow to over two metres. Although I prefer a warm temperate climate, I can withstand some frost. My flowers are not only violet-blue in colour but also strongly scented of violets. What is my name?

19. Arriving at your holiday hotel on the Costa del Sol you pause to admire a very colourful Bougainvillea on the hotel wall which you recognise as being a member of the B. x spectoperuviana group (B. spectabilis x B. peruviana). The colour of the flowers is:
a. Orange
b. Purple/red
c. White/cream
d. Gold

20. Name that palm!