6. Trachycarpus priaceps. New species from
Yunnan, China, described in Principes April 1995. Distinctive because
of the waxywhite backs to the leaves (see photo below). Not in cultivation
anywhere, some seeds were erroneously distributed under this name
earlier this year. Sorry, if you think you have it, you don't. When
it does get into cultivation, it will be a winner! See Principes
39 (2) 1995 and Chamaerops (18) 1995.
B. Those with oval-and-grooved seeds (like a
coffee bean)
7. Trachycarpus martianas (includes T. khasianus).
From Nepal, and Meghalaya State, India. Probably also northern Burma
but outof-bounds to foreigners until the wretched and despicable
administration there falls . Cultivated in only a few botanic gardens
(Huntington and Sydney for example) in the world, but locally very
common in the wild, though largely inaccessible. Distinctive features
are the (usually) bare trunk, the seed shape, and the even splits
in the leaf blade. lt has quite a different look from T. fortunei
yet frequently one sees photographs of a bare trunked T. fortunei
captioned as this species. Thousands of seeds distributed over the
last couple of years. See Chamaerops (19) 1995 and Principes 38
(2) 1994.
8. Trachycarpus 'sikkimensis'. We have to
keep those inverted commas for a little while yet as this new species
has not yet been scientifically described (in press) . Cultivated
commonly in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India, and also growing wild
there, it is a splendid palm with big, leathery leaves and a bare
trunk. lt is very hardy to cold, fast-growing and will be just fabulous
as an ornamental once it is more widely available. Prolific seeder,
many thousands of seeds and seedlings have now been distributed
around the world.
Trachycarpus on Parade
