Acanthophoenix rubra
| Acanthophoenix rubra | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Acanthophoenix |
| Species: | A. rubra
|
| Binomial name | |
| Acanthophoenix rubra | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Acanthophoenix rubra, the barbel palm, is a critically endangered palm endemic to Mauritius, Rodrigues, and Réunion that is prized for its edible palm hearts.
Naming and description
It is also known as the red- or yellow- Barbel palm, red palm, Mascarene Islands cabbage palm, and palmiste rouge, palmiste bourre, palmiste des bois, palmiste des hauts, palmiste épineux, palmiste zépines, palmiste piquant in French.[3]
This palm was first described as Areca rubra by French naturalist Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent in 1804 and classified by German botanist Hermann Wendland in its own genus Acanthophoenix in 1867. It can reach a height of 25 m. The trunk is slender, with a diameter of 18 cm. The crown contents of about 10 leaves approximately 3 m in size which are arranged convoluted.
In his 1995 checklist of seed plants, Rafaël Govaerts considered A. crinita to be a synonym of Acanthophoenix rubra, as did Govaerts and John Dransfield in their 2005 checklist of palms. However, in his revision of the genus, N. Ludwig recognised A. crinita as a separate species.[4]
Threats
The Barbel palm is endangered due to habitat destruction to make way for sugarcane plantations, and its high value as edible and medicinal plant. The palm heart is a delicacy. About 150 individuals occur in the wild on Mauritius. It is widely grown in cultivation.
Synonyms
- Areca rubra Bory (1804).[3]
References
- ^ Page, W. (1998). "Acanthophoenix rubra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998 e.T38181A10098570. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T38181A10098570.en.
- ^ "Acanthophoenix rubra (Bory) H.Wendl". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ^ a b Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
- ^ " Acanthophoenix crinita". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 8 September 2008.