PlantWerkz

Traveller's Palm - Ravenala Madagascarienis

Group of Matured Traveller's Palm

Common Name: Traveller's Palm

Scientific Name: Ravenala Madagascarienis

Height: up to 9 - 18 m

Span: up to 6 m

Growth Rate: Normal

Sun Tolerance: Full Sun, Shade

ABP Index: 4.0 (Aesthetics 4.0, Solidarity 4.0)

The Traveller's Palm is not a true palm but a member of bird of paradise family. It's name comes from 2 distinct features. One, water is collected at the trunk of the plant (about 1 liter per branch) and a traveller can quench his thrist. Two, the plant tends to grow in a east-west direction and a traveller can use it as a compass when he's lost.

This native of Madagascar (just like the Grandidier Baobab and Madagascar Almond) is beautifully and symmetrically shaped like a Chinese fan and is made up of many paddle-shaped, banana like leaves that can stretch more than 3 m each. The petioles (leaf stems) forms the basic architecture of the plant and is evident even as a young plant without the trunk.

It is best to place the Traveller's Palm in a place without strong winds as it would tear the leaves and cause the plant to look less aesthetic. Dead branches should be cut off too and not left hanging to the trunk to enhance the beauty of this plant. One of nature's distinct and finest tropical plants.

Group of Growing Traveller's Palm

A Traveller's Palm with Young Shoots

Beautiful Symmetrical Petioles (leaf stem) patterns of the Traveller's Palm

More information on the Traveller's Palm:

pdf from US Department of Agriculture

Floridata

Wikipedia

Joshua Tree - Yucca Brevifolia

The Joshua Tree

Common Name: Joshua Tree

Scientific Name: Yucca Brevifolia

Height: up to 15 m

Span: up to 4 m

Growth Rate: 3 inches per year fo 1st 10 years, 1.5 inches per year thereafter

Sun Tolerance: Full Sun

ABP Index: 4.0 (Aesthetics 4.0, Solidarity 4.0)

The Joshua Tree is a native of the Mohave desert in USA and thrives in the altitudes of 400-1,800 m. This tree so captivates the heart that a National Park was set aside and named after it and a music album titled 'Joshua Tree' was written by the famous band U2.

The Joshua Tree is a Yucca and looks very similiar to the Dracena Draco. What's so facinating about this tree is that every single one of them have a very unique branch structure that twists in odd but architecturally beautiful directions. Some have so many leaves and branch structure that it looks like a hairy bush while others have very little leaves and branches and look like a chinese spear. Each branch would end with a bunch of dark green bayonet-shaped leaves that look like a ball of fur from far, blurring and teasing the crown of the tree. Very iconic. Very architecturally beautiful.

Lone Joshua Tree

Crown of the Joshua Tree

Field of Joshua Trees

Joshua Tree Park Landscape

Joshua Tree Panicle (Flowers)

Joshua Trees at Joshua Tree National Park

More information on the Joshua Tree

US National Parks

Wikipedia

Foxtail Fern - Asparagus Densiflorus Meyersii

Foxtail Fern as Ground Cover

Common Name: Foxtail Fern
Scientific Name: Asparagus Densiflorus Meyersii
Height: up to 0.6 m
Span: up to 1.2m wide
Growth Rate: Fast
Sun Tolerance: Shade
ABP Index: 2.5 (Aesthetics 3.0, Solidarity 2.0)

The foxtail fern is not a true fern as it propagates through seeds rather than spores. This native of South Africa produce bright green foxtail like fronds that are can grow up to 2 ft (0.6m) high and up to 4 ft (1.2m) wide in span. Each frond is long, thin and made up of many rice shaped needle clusters that look like ‘colonies of mini plants’ along the frond. A field of foxtail ferns can give a soft cloud-like feel to the area as it sways to the breeze. Beautiful as ground cover, in pots and flower arrangements.