| Field notes | Cultivated staminate palm, 3-5 m tall. Leaf base deeply split, only encircling at the base and only in young leaves, 1.5 cm thick at the middle, about 46 cm long, transition to petiolar region being gradual and indistinct, outer periphery with layer of dense coarse, black fibres, inner periphery with layer of yellow to pinkish fibres lesser in density, mid portion with additional split elongating continuously through the life span of one leaf probably with the enlarging girth of the stem, one particular split measured to 31.5 cm long by 8 cm wide basally. Petiole approx. 230 cm long by 5-3 cm wide, bright green, shallowly channeled abaxially, with very sharp, raised black edges. Lamina 290 cm in widest diam, mid portion of blade 155 cm long (hastula to margin), basal portion 125 cm (hastula to margin), number of folds 67, each one about 7 cm wide, separated by splits of variable length, glossy green below, slightly darker above. Individual collected with 3 inflorescences, two at anthesis, one past anthesis. Inflorescences visited by numerous weevils (collected). Peduncle 104 cm long including the apex of ultimate PD bract, branched to first order with 2 flower bearing rachillae (individuals growing in the forest with 3-4 branches per inflorescence as confirmed by local people), mostly enclosed by the prophyll and the PD bracts, terete in CS, bright green where exposed and light yellow where enclosed, brownish orange distally towards the rachis, glabous and with scattered spots throughout. Prophyll fused and strongly adherent to the basis of the peduncle, 34 cm long by 7 cm wide, pale yellow, with coarse black, longitudinal fibres, margin brown to dark brown, desintegrating. Number of peduncular (PD) bracts 5. First PD bract pale yellow where enclosed, dark green where exposed, with black coarse fibres like the prohyll, apex and margins light brown, not breaking easily. Second PD bract 44 cm long by 6 cm wide, ressembling first PD bract in all other aspects. Third PD bract 48 cm by 5.5 cm, like previously described bracts except for the more extended apex and the texture being slightly more brittle. Fourth PD bract 35 cm by 5.5, otherwise like PD bract 3. Fifth PD bract 38 cm by 3 cm, otherwise like PD bract 3. Rachis with two prominent carinae, about 30 cm long. Rachillae 2, about 43 cm cm long, grayish brown with olive green tinge, 3.3 cm in diam. Flowers numerous, fragrant like the fermented odour from overripe fruit such as canteloupe. Stamens yellow. Petals opaque to whitish yellow, lasting a day. Nom. vern.: "Beiwof" (Apau talkplace). |
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