Indian Phoenix Palms
Recent botanical research has uncovered a new species of palm in India and reclassified existing ones within the genus Phoenix. These findings stem from revisiting the 17th-century work Hortus Malabaricus by Hendrik van Rheede. The study resolves longstanding confusion about palms found across the Indian subcontinent and neighbouring regions.
Katou-Indel Palm
The palm named Katou-Indel appears in Hortus Malabaricus, a monumental 17th-century botanical treatise on Malabar flora. Compiled by Hendrik van Rheede with help from physician Itty Achudan, the work documents medicinal plants of Kerala’s coast. The palm was later named Phoenix sylvestris by William Roxburgh in the 19th century.
Recent Scientific Investigations
A team from Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI) re-examined Katou-Indel. They confirmed that the palms in Kerala and Sri Lanka belong to Phoenix sylvestris. They also reclassified three previously distinct species—P. pusilla, P. farinifera, and P. zeylanica—as Phoenix sylvestris.
New Phoenix Species
The study identified a new species on India’s eastern coast, Bangladesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Pakistan. Named Phoenix roxburghii after botanist William Roxburgh, this palm grows taller (12-16 metres) than P. sylvestris. It has a solitary trunk, larger leaves and leaflets, musty-scented staminate flowers, and bigger obovoid orange-yellow fruits.
Significance
Phoenix roxburghii shares similarities with Phoenix sylvestris but differs in key traits. The taller trunk and distinct floral scent help distinguish it. Fruit size and shape also vary, supporting its status as a separate species. These differences clarify earlier confusion noted by 19th-century botanist William Griffith.
Impact
The research revisits centuries-old botanical records using modern taxonomy. It corrects earlier misclassifications and enriches knowledge about palm diversity in South Asia. The findings were published in the journal Phytotaxa, demonstrating the value of historical texts combined with contemporary science.
Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden
The Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden in Thrissur commemorates the original treatise. It serves as a centre for conservation and education about Malabar’s unique flora. The garden marks the continuing relevance of van Rheede’s work and the new palm discoveries.
| Related | |
|---|---|
