Family: Arecaceae
Common Name: Foxtail Palm

This genus contains a solitary species of feather-leaved palm endemic to north-eastern Aust­ralia. It was named for Wodyeti, an Aboriginal bushman, the last male of his tribe, who had a vast knowledge of the region. Identified only during the 1980s, it is extensively cultivated in the tropics and subtropics; however it is becom­ing rare and threatened in its habitat because of unscrupulous collectors.

Species

W. bifurcata, foxtail palm, grows to between 6 and 15 m (20-50 ft) tall. The narrow leaflets are arranged in a circular fashion on the stem - the so-called foxtail effect. The trunk has distinctive, closely spaced rings. Greenish flow­ers on a branched inflorescence emerge from the crownshaft base, followed by bright, orange-red fruits.

Cultivation

Outside the subtropics and tropics, the foxtail palm should be grown in a warm greenhouse or conservatory, in pots of soil-based potting compost. Provide good light but shade from direct, strong sun. Water well during the growing season, but reduce consid­erably in the winter. Outdoors these palms prefer a position in full sun, with deep, well-drained soil. Propagate from seed, which may germinate erratically, in a warm propagating case.

Climate

Subtropical and tropical.