Common name: bangalow palm, piccabeen palm
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (H.Wendl.) H.Wendl. & Drude APNI*
Description: Arborescent, the stems up to 20–25 m high 25 cm diam., enlarged at the base.
Leaves pinnately divided, 3–4 m long, with 80–100 pairs of segments; segments linear, 60–90 cm long, 3–8 cm wide, entire, green on both surfaces; petiole 20–25 cm long, sheathing base 60–90 cm long.
Inflorescence 1–1.5 m long; spikes 50–80 cm long; spathes 30–40 cm long. Flowers pink to lilac; stamens 9–18.
Fruit globose, 13–15 mm diam., red.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in or near rainforest in coastal districts, mostly in moist sites beside creeks and on alluvial flats; north from Batemans Bay.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC
Other Australian states: Qld
Aboriginal people used the stems for weaving. Surveyors in the early part of European settlement used one chain lengths of the stems as standard measures. Cultivated as a garden plant and as a housepalm both in Australia and overseas.
Text by A. K. Brooks
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.