Chambeyronia macrocarpa
Common Names: Flame Thrower Palm, Red Leaf Palm, Blushing Palm
Description
Chambeyronia macrocarpa is a solitary palm reaching 15-20 m (50-66 ft) in height, with a trunk diameter of 30-40 cm (12-16 in). Its pinnate leaves are 2-4 m (6.5-13 ft) long, arching and glossy green, but the species is best known for its emerging spear leaf, which appears bright red to maroon before gradually turning green. The crown is composed of 8-12 leaves, and the trunk is smooth, gray, and prominently ringed with leaf scars.
This palm is endemic to New Caledonia, where it grows in humid tropical forests on ultramafic soils. It thrives in shaded to semi-open habitats with regular rainfall and high humidity.Â
Characteristics
| Cold hardiness | 0 °C (32 °F), briefly, with damage likely below this |
| Growth speed | Slow to Moderate |
| Rarity | Rare in cultivation |
| Maximum height | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Drought resistance | Low |
| Shade tolerance | High |
Annotations and Curiosities
Chambeyronia macrocarpa is notable for its vividly colored emerging leaf, a trait not commonly observed in palms and one that has made it highly valued in horticulture. The red coloration is attributed to anthocyanin pigments, which may provide photoprotection to tender new tissue. As a member of the subtribe Archontophoenicinae, it shares morphological similarities with Kentiopsis and Actinokentia, which also occur in New Caledonia. Several forms exist in cultivation, with variation in leaf and crownshaft coloration, but genetic studies support treating them as a single variable species.
