Wodyetia bifurcata A.K.Irvine

Irvine, A. (1983) Principes 27(4): 165. Type: Australia, N.E. Queensland, confined to the southwest, south and southeast sides of Melville Range, latitude 14° 17 S, longitude 144° 28 E. Irvine 2184 (holotype QRS; isotypes BH, K).

Foxtail Palm

Single stemmed palm 6-15 m tall. The trunk is smooth, slender, and enlarged at the base.

Leaves 2.6-3.2 m long, arching; 90-110 pinnae each side of rachis; leafsheath to 120 cm long, light green with greyish-white bloom; petiole to 25-90 cm, greenish-whitish. Pinnae to 70 cm long, mostly divided longitudinally to the base into 1-17 segments; underneath light green to whitish-green.

Inflorescence to 112 cm long, bearing flowers in groups of three consisting of two male and one female flower. Male flowers with sepals 3, c. 5-6 mm long, cream-green; petals 3, c. 10 mm long, cream-green; stamens 58-72 per flower; ovary, style and stigma always well developed but the ovules are absent in the male flowers. Female flowers with sepals 3, 6-7 x 5-7 mm, green; petals 3, 9-11 x 6-8 mm, green; c. 3-6 staminodes present; stigma 5 mm long spreading.

Fruit 50-65 mm long x 27-60 mm wide, red when mature, mesocarp of thickened, blackish, dense fibres. Seed 32 mm long x 26 mm wide.

Features not available.

Endemic to Australia, occurs in NEQ where it only occurs in the Melville Range. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 400 m. Grows in rainforest and vine forest.