Bamboo palm

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bamboo palm
• fern rhapis
• ground rattan
• miniature fan palm
• slender lady palm
• Broadleaf Lady Palm
• Little Lady Palm
• Lady Palm

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Trachycarpus excelsus
• Chamaerops excelsa var. gracilis
• Chamaerops excelsa
• Rhapis javanica
• Rhapis kwamwonzick
• Rhapis major
• Rhapis flabelliformis var. variegata
• Trachycarpus excelsus var. fortunei
• Rhapis divaricata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Arecales and the family Arecaceae, it is specifically classified under the genus Rhapis. As Rhapis excelsa, it represents a distinct species within this botanical hierarchy.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across East Asia. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central regions and across the Southeast. It also grows naturally on the tropical island of Hainan. Moving further east, its distribution extends into the country of Japan. Finally, the species is also documented within the Nansei-shoto islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rhapis excelsa is characterized by its specialized niche within forest ecosystems, where it primarily thrives as an understorey component. This positioning allows it to adapt to the lower light intensities and higher humidity levels typical of the forest floor. The species occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1600 m AMSL. In terms of biological interactions and survival strategies, the plant does not exhibit specific chemical or physical defense mechanisms, making its growth patterns and distribution heavily dependent on the stability of its shaded, understorey habitat.

Defense :

no

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

understorey

Life history

The life history of Rhapis excelsa is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, ensuring a long-lasting presence within its ecosystem through sustained growth cycles. In terms of its structural life form, it exhibits characteristics of both a phanerophyte, due to its woody, upright stems that elevate its photosynthetic organs, and a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its compact growth patterns and specific stature within its habitat.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rhapis excelsa is characterized by its growth form as a woody, self-supporting shrub or palm that maintains an erect shoot orientation. This terrestrial and non-epiphytic plant grows independently without parasitic tendencies, typically reaching a mean height of 2.5 m, though individual specimens can vary significantly in size with a minimum height of 2 m and a maximum height of up to 10 m. The plant exhibits a robust structure with a maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) of 30 cm and can produce shoots with a maximum length of 400 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

DBH max:

30 cm

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Shoot length max:

400 cm

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rhapis excelsa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's foliage exhibits significant morphological variation in dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 20 cm to a mean of 26 cm, reaching a maximum of 75 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, with an average width recorded at 3.25 cm. Structurally, the leaf surfaces are smooth and lack the presence of leaf spines, contributing to its specific vegetative profile.

Leaf length max:

75 cm

Leaf length mean:

26 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.25 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rhapis excelsa is characterized by the development of small, distinct fruits that exhibit specific morphological dimensions and coloration. The fruits are typically yellow in color and vary in size, with a mean length of 0.89 cm and a minimum length of 0.76 cm, reaching a maximum length of up to 1 cm. In terms of width, the fruits maintain a mean measurement of 0.71 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.61 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds play a crucial role in propagation, possessing a highly consistent mass that averages 0.37037 g, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values remaining at this same measurement of 0.37037 g.

Fruit colour :

yellow

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.89 cm

Fruit length min:

0.76 cm

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.71 cm

Fruit width min:

0.61 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.37037 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rhapis excelsa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Chemicals

Rhapis excelsa has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ethanol, methanol.

ethanol

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

methanol

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Conditions

Rhapis excelsa has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Chikungunya virus.

Chikungunya virus

1. International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology

Preparations

Rhapis excelsa has 6 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include chloroform, ethanol, ethyl acetate, hexane, methanol.

Chloroform

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Ethanol

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Ethyl acetate

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Hexane

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Methanol

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Water

1. Journal de mycologie medicale