Arenga microcarpa Becc.

Beccari, O. in Schumann, K.M. & Hollrung, M. (1889) Die Flora von Kaiser Wilhelms Land : 16. Type: Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, Finchaven, Hollrung 302.

Arenga

Multi-stemmed palm (1-3 dominant) up to 7 m tall with numerous suckers around the base, stems up to 15 cm dbh.

Leaves pinnate, up to 4 m long. Leaflets 78-142 per leaf (ca. 30-70 pinnae on each side of leaf), narrow, stiff, pleated, dark green above and lighter below, apices notched and grows from the rachis at a 30° angle to create a V-shaped leaf. Terminal leaflets are fused at their bases and fishtail-like. Pinnae grey-green on underside. Crownshaft absent.

Inflorescence from the upper leaf bases and progressively down the stem, 1-2 m long with 38-44 unbranched pendant panicles of yellowish male and female flowers. Sepals 3, petals 3. Flowers in clusters of 3, one female flower and 2 male flowers.

Fruit globular and white to red when ripe, ca. 5-18 mm wide. 1-3 seeds per fruit. Seeds hard and smooth, globose to angled.

Features not available.

Occurs in the NT, from Adelaide River east to the Gulf region, in small scattered populations. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 150 m. Grows in monsoon forest or moist vine forest. Also occurs in New Guinea.