Rhopalostylis
- For the genus Rhopalostylis Klotzsch ex. Baill., of the family Euphorbiaceae, see its current synonym Dalechampia.
| Rhopalostylis | |
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| Flowers and fruit of R. sapida, Paparoa National Park, New Zealand | |
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| Genus: | Rhopalostylis |
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Rhopalostylis is a genus of two or three species of palms native to the South Pacific. Both are smooth-trunked, with regular ringed scars from fallen leaves. The leaves are 3-5 metres in length, and the leaf bases encircle the trunk. Rhopalostylis is closely related to the Lord Howe Island genus Hedyscepe.
Distribution
R. baueri occurs on Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands northeast of New Zealand; the Kermadec Islands population is separated as R. cheesemanii by some botanists. R. sapida, known as the Nikau Palm, is the only palm native to mainland New Zealand, and is found in lowland forests on the North Island, in coastal areas of the South Island as far south as Banks Peninsula, and on the Chatham Islands at 44 degrees S. R. sapida thus has the southernmost range of any palm genus.