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Trachycarpus fortunei
  • Chusan Palm

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Trachycarpus genus in the family Palmae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 8
    Zone 8
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Trachycarpus fortunei has 0 edible uses listed
Trachycarpus fortunei has 0 material uses listed
Trachycarpus fortunei has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young flower buds - cooked[1][2][3]. Used like bamboo shoots[4]. The fresh flowers and terminal bud are also apparently consumed[4].

Flowers

Unknown use

Material uses

The fibres cloaking the trunk are used to make ropes and cloth[5][6][7]. The fibres from within the leafstalk are used for making brushes, ropes, coarse cloth etc[8].

A matting is made from the bark admixed with some of the stem fibres[3].

The leaves are woven into hats, rough coats and fans[6][7][3].

Unknown part

Fibre
Weaving

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The flowers and the seed are astringent and haemostatic[9][10].

The root or the fruit is decocted as a contraceptive[9][10].

The ashes from the silky hairs of the plant are haemostatic[9][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[9].

Unknown part

Astringent
Contraceptive
Haemostatic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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[11]. 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.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Trachycarpus fortunei. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a rich moist but well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered position[12][8], especially from the cold drying winds of the north and east[5]. 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[8].

This species is generally hardy in the southern and western part of Britain. When mature, plants have been known to survive occasional temperatures as low as -18°c[5][8][13] though younger plants are more tender and can be damaged by temperatures down to about -8°c, especially if the plant is not sheltered from cold winds[14][13].Very young plants should be given some protection during their first winter or two outdoors[5] . A fairly slow-growing plant, though it self-sows in S.W. England[5]. Widely cultivated throughout China, Japan and S.E. Asia for the fibres within the leaf stalk[8]. 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[8]. 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[8]. 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[8]. The flowers are sweetly scented[8].

Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Trachycarpus fortunei. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Trachycarpus fortunei.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Trachycarpus fortunei
Genus
Trachycarpus
Family
Palmae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4]
Medicinal uses
[9][10]
Material uses & Functions
[5][6][7][8][3]
Botanic
[5][14]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    slow
    Mature Size
    12 x 2 meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious











    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.4 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.6 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.78.88.9 McMillan-Browse. P. Palms for Cooler Climates. Trebah Enterprises. ISBN 0 9521952 0 8 (1993-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.4 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.3 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    11. ? Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (1987-00-00)
    12. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. ISBN 0-330-37376-5 (1998-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)


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    Facts about "Trachycarpus fortunei"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyPalmae +
    Belongs to genusTrachycarpus +
    Has common nameChusan Palm +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFlowers +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile + and Insects +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has growth rateSlow +
    Has hardiness zone8 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useFibre + and Weaving +
    Has mature height12 +
    Has mature width2 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAstringent +, Contraceptive + and Haemostatic +
    Has search nametrachycarpus fortunei + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameTrachycarpus fortunei +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +