Red Coral Palm

The Essence

"Clinosperma bracteale is one of only four species in a genus endemic to New Caledonia, where it grows in rainforest from sea level to about 1,200 m in the centre and south of the island. It is a solitary palm reaching roughly 15 m on a slender trunk of uniform 10 cm diameter, gray to tan and ringed with leaf scars. Its most distinctive feature is the 60 cm crownshaft, which bulges markedly to one side at the base to give a triangular outline; it is covered in hairy tomentum and white wax, so depending on the concentration of each it can read brown, green or white. The infrafoliar inflorescence unfolds bright red - the trait behind the Rare Palm Seeds trade name Red Coral Palm - carrying small white to yellow unisexual flowers in triads on bright red branches, followed by globose fruit that ripens from shiny green to black. Rare Palm Seeds calls it one of the most adaptable of the island's palms, yet despite being rather widespread in the wild it remains virtually unknown in cultivation, foremost perhaps because ripe seed is difficult to obtain."

First described by Brongniart in 1873 as Cyphokentia bractealis, and transferred by Beccari to Clinosperma in Palme Nuova Caledonia: 52 (1920); Beccari's earlier combination Clinostigma bracteale (Malesia 1: 40, 1877) is the other homotypic synonym recognised by POWO. Molecular studies strongly support the monophyly of Clinosperma and its sister relationship to Cyphokentia, the two genera making up subtribe Clinospermatinae. Neither PALMweb nor Palmpedia records a common name or any documented use for the genus.