Adonidia

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Adonidia
Adonidia merrillii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Subtribe: Ptychospermatinae
Genus: Adonidia
Becc.[1]

Adonidia is a genus of flowering plants in the Arecaceae family.

The genus was originally described in 1919. In 1957, it was transferred to the Veitchia genus. In 2008, further study suggested a return to its own genus. Thus, some older photos from the 1957-2008 period use Veitchia instead of Adonidia.[2]

At present there are two recognized species.[3] The first and better known is the Manila palm (Adonidia merrillii). It is native to Palawan, Danjugan Island and Sabah, and reportedly naturalized in the West Indies.[3] It is commonly known as the "Christmas Palm" because its fruits become bright scarlet and tend to be that color in winter. This palm is typically fairly small and slender, normally attaining 15–25 feet in height but has attained 36 feet grown in greenhouse conditions.

The second species was Adonidia maturbongsii, native to New Guinea, first described in 2012.[4]

In 2015, a third species, Adonidia dransfieldii, was described.[5]

Also of note, Adonidia maturbongsii was moved to its own unique genus, Manjekia, in 2014, so the genus is back to two identified species again.

Some palms sold in retail outlets as "adonidia" are in fact Alexander palms, which are similar but even thinner.

Uses

Adonidia merrillii is widely planted in cultivation and grows well in tropical locations such as Hawaii and the southern half of the Florida peninsula. Its fruits are sometimes said to be used as a substitute for the betel nut, in preparing buyo (fruit of Areca catechu, leaves of Piper betle, and lime) for chewing.[6]

References

External links