Masoala madagascariensis & Masoala kona

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:39 pm

Masoala kona and Masoala madagascariensis, these are the two species comprising the Masoala genus.

Both these Palms are from Madagascar, the M.kona will develop large/semi divided leaves, and M.madagascariensis will
form a medium sized trunk.

Not a lot of info on these, here are a couple links.

http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadat ... 00157&pgs=

http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadat ... 00165&pgs=

Masoala kona seeds,

Masoala madagascariensis seeds,

A two day soak at 30C and we'll see what happens.

Steve

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu May 01, 2008 8:15 pm

The Masoala kona are looking good!

Steve

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:38 pm

First Masoala madagascariensis germination,

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:38 pm

This'll be interesting to watch...

...a two day soak until germination.

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:31 am

Barb,

Actually there was a two week gap between the soak and germination

One is just starting to send up it's first spear, not too much longer to wait!

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:49 am

Steve,
What's two weeks (compared to 8 months

).

Is your propagator and dri-bath unit now set up in the GH?

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:58 am

Barb,

Still have all that set up in the house. Have you had any luck with your Palm seeds yet?

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:08 pm

After 8 months, I said to hell with it and dumped them among the potting soil used for
the 6 new Yucca rostrata.
Except the Bizzies (too large).

Never again without the right "tools" such as a dri-bath or propagator.

Oh well, kept me busy over the winter

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:40 pm

An old aquarium with your heat mat on the bottom would make a decent propagator.
I've had some batches of seed that never did anything, and others that germinated in transit. Best thing to do is just keep trying. ( and not to be discouraged by the duds

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:21 am

Steve, yes, that's a good idea.
But I look around at all the plants and wonder why I'd want more.
Can hardly keep up with the requirements of the existing ones.

I'd better start looking after those a bit better.

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:23 am

Here's a Masoala kona just breaking the surface,

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 1:57 pm

Steve,
Nice work!

Yours can provide a good pic (the links' photos weren't great).

Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 3:01 pm

Barb,
Happy to have a couple of each germinate

(now, If I can just keep them growing

You are right about the photos, that link was about the only one I could find!

Steve

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:06 pm

A bit slow growing, but worth the wait. Here's the first leaf on the Masoala kona

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:19 pm

Steve, looked to see updated links, few exist.
Are these palms named after mangrove swamps (Madagascar? Kona?)
If so, are they like Nypa (need flowing water?)

Sometimes names are so puzzling.
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:38 pm

Barb,

Both are from the Madagascar forest, and that's about all I know......

The RPS links are a little more descriptive,

http://rarepalmseeds.com/pix/MasMad.shtml

http://rarepalmseeds.com/pix/MasKon.shtml

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:17 pm

Interesting, that shuttlecock arrangement/look.
Good luck with them.
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:54 pm

Here's a Masoala kona, didn't seem to mind the cool temps this winter.

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:10 pm

Exciting you've got that germinated and looking so healthy, Steve.

I've "flown" over Madagascar on Google Earth (during a very slow rainy day, ha ha), just to see if I could discover WHY it was such a special habitat. Apart from climate, the deforestation would have been a detriment, so it's great that seeds of at-risk plants will be domesticated in the U.S., making them more widely available.

I doubt their government is able to keep up with either poachers of valuable genetic material, or farmers, who just want to make a few bucks off the land.

I'll watch your Masoala with interest.
Barb

Knnn · Post by **Knnn** » Thu May 07, 2009 8:31 pm

Barb,

I'm a believer in conservation through propagation.
(recently donated some plants to FSU, nice to know some stuff started here has made it's way back to a warm climate

Here's one of the Masoala madagascariensis, this one just came up after sitting in the GH all winter.

Steve

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat May 09, 2009 12:43 pm

That's a great looking seedling.

Congrats on being patient, it's paid off well.
I would've tossed the seeds (into my potting mix) by now.

How nice that you've donated plants.

Years ago I bought an entire lot of Austrian Pines from a nursery that was closing, knowing there was a door-to-door market in the nearby new subdivision. I now get to drive past and see "my trees" thriving.
A nice feeling!

Barb

PalmsNorth.com

Masoala madagascariensis & Masoala kona

Masoala madagascariensis & Masoala kona

Who is online