Cyrtostachys renda

Cyrtostachys renda Blume 

Family Name:  Arecaceae (Palmae)

Synonyms:  Cyrtostachys lakka

Common Names: Sealing-wax Palm, Pinang Rajah, Maharajah Palm, Lipstick Palm, Red Sealing Wax

Life stage-characteristic

Plant Division : Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon)

Plant Growth Form : Palm (Cluster Palm)

Lifespan (in Singapore) : Perennial

Mode of Nutrition : Autotrophic

Maximum Height :12 m

Description and ethnobotany

Plant Morphology 

Growth Form: A clumping palm, up to 12 m tall, with characteristically bright red leaf sheaths (each about 60 cm long) around the stems. Naturally growing in swamps and highly tolerant of flooding. Cultivated as an ornamental palm for its attractive bright red stems and leaf stalks.

Foliage: Leaves, measuring about 1.5 m long and 0.6 m wide, have bright red stalks and mid-ribs and are pinnate and alternately-arranged. Each leaf consists of leaflets that are boat-shaped, slightly grey on the underside and about 45 cm long and 4 cm wide.

Crown Shaft: Crown shaft is distinctively red in colour.

Flowers: Its branched flowering shoot is first green before turning to red, with two large spathes (modified leaves) that are 60 cm by 60 cm. Flowers are pollinated by bees.
Fruits: Its tiny one-seeded fruits are ellipsoidal in shape, 8-10 by 4-5 mm.

          Habitat : It grows near the sea, by tidal rivers, and in freshwater or peat swamp forests.

          Associated Fauna : Its flowers are pollinated by insects. The fruits are eaten by birds. It is the host-plant for the moth species Parasa lepida.

         Cultivation : Preferring rich loamy soil, that has to be kept moist as this palm is not drought-tolerant, quickly withering with water stress. Suitable for garden, parks and roadside planting. Also can be grown at the edges of ponds or reservoirs as it is tolerant of water-logged conditions. The outer wood of the stem is hard and used to make darts. This palm is also the symbol of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

          Etymology : Greek cyrtos, curved, Greek, stachys, spike, referring to the curved inflorescence, Ethnobotanical Uses .

          Others: The hard outer wood of the stem is used to make darts. This palm is the symbol of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Landscaping feature

Landscaping : 

Its bright scarlet leaf sheaths make this palm one of the most attractive of palms. It is an

ornamental palm suitable for gardens, parks, roadsides and around the edges of ponds and

water bodies.

Desirable Plant Features : 

Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Stems, Ornamental Form.

Plant & Rootzone Preference/Tolerance : 

Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site; Does not Drain

 Site), Fertile Loamy Soils, Heavy Clay Soils.

Landscape Uses: 

General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Hedge / 

 Screening, Riverine, Pond / Lake / River, Marsh / Bog, Focal Plant.

Fauna, pollination and dispersal

Associated Fauna : Bird-Attracting (Fruits), Caterpillar (Moth) Food Plant.

Pollination Method(s) : Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)).

Seed / Spore Dispersal :Biotic (Fauna)

Plant care and propagation

Light Preference : Full Sun, Semi-Shade.

Water Preference : Lots of Water, Moderate Water.

Propagation Method : Seed, Sucker, Division .