Arecaceae FAMILY Vulnerable

Dypsis oreophila

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Dypsis oreophila is an evergreen, clumping palm growing 4 - 6 metres tall. It produces 4 - 8 unbranched stems that can be 4 - 6 metres tall, each topped by a rosette of leaves that can be up to 120cm long[ 455 Title Flore de Madagascar et des Comores Publication Author Humbert H. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle; Paris Year 1946 - 1984 ISBN Description Written in French, an excellent flora of the area though it has not been completed. Available for download from the Internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. A fairly scarce palm with about 500 individuals estimated throughout the distribution range. The species is threatened by habitat loss, especially clearance for shifting agriculture and logging. The habitat is also impacted by illegal ruby mining operations. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeAfrica - northern and northeastern Medagascar.

HabitatLowland and montane forest, frequent in sites where the forest is mossy and the canopy is relatively low and slightly open, at elevations from 500 - 1,700 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].