Arecaceae FAMILY Endangered

Dypsis utilis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Dypsis utilis is an evergreen, clumping palm that can grow up to 15 metres tall. The plant can produce several main stems and, unlike most palm species, these stems can produce up to 3 side shoots that grow upwards parallel with the main stem. Each stem is topped by a crown of large leaves[ 314 Title Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. Publication Author Website http://www.pacsoa.org.au/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website. , 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, medicine and source of fibre. This species is quite popular with collectors, due to the branching habit of the trunk and the attractive dark red colour of new leaves[ 314 Title Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. Publication Author Website http://www.pacsoa.org.au/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website. ]. About 800 mature individuals are known from the entire distribution range and the population is decreasing. This species is threatened by habitat loss through clearance for shifting and permanent agriculture (especially for the cultivation of rice) and logging. The species is also threatened by over-harvesting of its seed and edible palm heart. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' 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 - central eastern Madagascar.

HabitatOccurs in lowland and montane forest, the species grows in swamps or along rivers and may form locally dense stands in these habitat types. Is recorded to occur between 400 and 1,300 m[ 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. ]. Stream banks/swamps of east Madagascan rainforest[ 314 Title Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. Publication Author Website http://www.pacsoa.org.au/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website. ].