Trachycarpus nanus

Botanical Description

Trachycarpus nanus is a solitary-stemmed, evergreen palm with a mainly subterranean stem that is around 5cm in diameter. In very old plants the stem can sometimes grow 30cm or more above ground level. The plant produces a crown of fan-shaped leaves at the top of the stem, each leaf around 50cm wide on a petiole around 12 - 25cm long[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental. Trachycarpus nanus is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2004)[ 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. ].