Sindro

The Essence

"Orania trispatha is a solitary palm endemic to Madagascar, recorded from the eastern side of the island - northeastern and southeastern Madagascar, with collections from the Antalaha, Maroantsetra, Mananara and Manombo areas. It is the largest of the Madagascan Orania species, reaching 15-22 m, but its most striking feature is the crown: only 10-12 leaves, each about 3-5 m long, arranged distichously in two opposite ranks so that the whole crown forms a fan. PALMweb describes it as a majestic distichous palm of great beauty. It is nowhere abundant, with a population estimated at roughly 600 individuals, and is threatened by habitat loss. Locally the leaves are used to thatch houses and the trunks for building houses and bridges; the palm heart is not edible."

First described as Halmoorea trispatha J.Dransf. & N.W.Uhl in Principes 28(4): 166 (1984), the species was transferred to Orania by Beentje & Dransfield in Palms of Madagascar: 118 (1995).