Trachycarpus martianus
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Trachycarpus genus in the family Palmae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Palmae
- Genus
- Trachycarpus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 12 m
- Spread
- 2 m
- Fertility
- Self sterile, Insects
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit- raw or cooked The flesh is scanty and almost tasteless[8]. The following notes are for the closely related T. fortunei. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K]. Young flower buds - cooked[8][1][5]. Used like bamboo shoots[6]. The fresh flowers and terminal bud are also apparently consumed[6].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The following notes are for the closely related T. fortunei. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K]. The flowers and the seed are astringent and haemostatic[4][10]. The root or the fruit is decocted as a contraceptive[4][10]. The ashes from the silky hairs of the plant are haemostatic[4][10]. Mixed with boiling water they are used in the treatment of haemopytsis, nose bleeds, haematemesis, blood in stools, metrorrhagia, gonorrhoea and other venereal diseases[4].
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Contraceptive
- Product or use
- Haemostatic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The following notes are for the closely related T. fortunei. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K]. The fibres from within the leafstalk are used for making brushes, ropes, coarse cloth etc[11]. A matting is made from the bark admixed with some of the stem fibres[5]. The leaves are woven into hats, rough coats and fans[13][14][5].
- Product or use
- Fibre
- Product or use
- Weaving
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Himalayas from Nepal to S.W. China.
- Habitat
- Found at elevations to 2,400 metres, often on limestone soils[11].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Scarify or pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water then sow in a cold frame in mid to late winter. Bring into the greenhouse about 4 - 6 weeks later and the seed should germinate in about 4 - 8 weeks at 25°c[3]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors. Pot up suckers in late spring and plant out in their permanent position 12 months later.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a rich moist but well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered position[7][11], especially from the cold drying winds of the north and east[2]. Individual leaves live for about 3 years and, if they are damaged by wind will make the plant look very shabby as well as reducing its potential for photosynthesis[11]. Hardy in the southern part of Britain, tolerating frosts down to between -5 and -10°c if the plant is sheltered from cold winds[9][12]. Young plants require protection during winter[2]. Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[11]. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates[11]. Palms can also be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help[11]. Very closely related to T. fortunei, one of the main differences being that, unlike T. fortunei, the fibres from the leaf stalks do not persist on this species[11]. The plant is also slower growing, though it is eventually much taller than T. fortunei[12]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
McMillan-Browse. P. Palms for Cooler Climates. Trebah Enterprises. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0 9521952 0 8
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202