Racimo Semilero de Palma

FEATURED PHOTO: Artists News FAA group - 06/14/2013... more

by Sandra Pena de Ortiz

Title

Racimo Semilero de Palma

Artist

Sandra Pena de Ortiz

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

FEATURED PHOTO: Artists News FAA group - 06/14/2013

FEATURED PHOTO: Comfortable Art FAA group - 06/09/2013

What you see is an impressive cluster (racimo) of seeds hanging from a young Macarthur Palm tree (Ptychosperma macarthurii). Macarthur Palms, originally from New Guinea, Australia, are noted for their multiple, slim, ringed grey trunks which are topped with soft green, feathery, flat, broad leaves. They are mostly often seen 10 to 15 feet in height. This particular Macarthur palm is growing next to banana trees, whose lease adorn and cover the seedbed cluster from the sun. The multiplicity of seeds produced by this species of palm tree and this one in particular, gives us good idea of how these palm trees are equipped to propagate once they fall on the ground forming astounding seedbeds. It is common to see that multiple palm trees eventually cluster within a given site due to their proximity of growth generated because of the fact that the seeds fall on the ground very close to each other forming seedbeds on the ground. One might say poetically that they are born together as clusters that hang from the palm tree, they develop together as such clusters before falling to the ground, and once on the ground they continue to "desire" to be joined. Actually, this is exactly what happens because these palm trees usually grow as clusters themselves. As if further showing their "intent and desperation" in being joined together throughout their life time (beginning to end), clusters of Macarthur palm tress develop grouped above surface root systems bearing sometimes more than ten palm trees in a small ground space. The multiple, form-varying, curved, unusual, interconnection, intercrossing and beautiful complex root systems "testify of the life union between the palm trees forming the cluster. Sometimes, the length of the surface roots can go from a few inches to even foots, serving also as above the ground bases of the palm trees. This goes to show why Macarthur Palms are so popular clustering palms. I must confess, that after years of seeing these palm trees grow all around me, I had never seen such beauty and plentifulness of the seed clusters; the red and the yellows being the actual colors of the seeds. My guess is that this Macarthur Palm tree in particular is very special and I feel blessed to have it.

Uploaded

June 8th, 2013