Black palm

Description

Normanbya is a monotypic genus of palms containing the single species Normanbya normanbyi, which is known by the common name black palm It is endemic to Queensland, Australia and is threatened by habitat destruction.Normanbya normanbyi is visually very similar to the more well-known Foxtail palm but is slightly smaller in all respects. It is a single-stemmed palm with attractive "bushy" fronds, similar to a bottlebrush. It grows to a height of 30 m (98 ft) with a small crown of fronds each measuring around 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) long with a petiole about 30 cm (12 in) long.The fronds have 75-95 whorled pinnae (leaflets) up to 45 cm (18 in) in length, each of which are divided longitudinally into 7-11 radiating segments, giving the fronds the bushy appearance. The pinnae are dark green on the upper surface and silvery underneath and the tips are abruptly truncated (like a fishtail). The inflorescence (grouping of flowers) is a panicle and is borne on the trunk just below the crownshaft. They are around 90 cm (35 in) long and the sessile (stemless) green flowers are grouped in threes, each with one pistillate (functionally female) and two staminate (functionally male) flowers. The staminate flowers have 24 to 40 stamens, the pistillate flowers have three strongly recurved stigmas. Ripe fruits measure between 35 to 50 mm (1.4 to 2.0 in) long and 25 to 40 mm (0.98 to 1.57 in) in width, and are pink to reddish-brown in colour. They contain a single seed about 35 by 25 mm (1.38 by 0.98 in).