Sunday, March 13, 2011

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Piccabeen Palm

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Piccabeen Palm

The first topic of conversation amongst gardeners is invariably the weather and this week was no exception. It has been very muggy with not a breath of wind and the horizon has that brown smudge of pollution which only a good sou' wester is going to shift. Up north there is way too much rain again but here the clouds build up in the afternoon, followed by a few thunder claps and then nothing. I want rain before planting some carrot seed and the brassica plants need a good kick along which only a gentle shower can give them.
This palm in flower caught my eye this week as the curtain of flowers looked wonderful set against blue black thunder clouds. It gets called Bangalow palm as well as Piccabeen palm. The common name is derived from the aboriginal word
Pikki which refers to the expanded leaf base which was used to carry water. It is a hardy and attractive 'self-cleaning' palm.

No comments:

Post a Comment