Beccariophoenix is a genus of three species of Arecaceae (palms), native to Madagascar. The genus is closely related to the Cocos, or coconut genus, and notably Beccariophoenix alfredii is similar in appearance to the coconut palm. It was named after Odoardo Beccari (1843-1920).
Description Palms in this group have solitary trunks. Crownshafts are not present in the genus; the leaves are pinnate, to 2–5 m long. The term "windowpane" palm comes from the leaflets on younger plants that are only partially divided from each other, where there appear to be 'windows' in the leaves between the leaflets. Older specimens do not display the windowpanes as the leaflets completely divide from each other.
They are somewhat cold hardy, down to about −3 °C, making them a good look-alike for the coconut in cooler climates.
Species Image Name Common name Distribution Beccariophoenix alfredii Rakotoarin., Ranariv. & J.Dransf. high plateau coconut palm Madagascar Beccariophoenix madagascariensis Jum. & H.Perrier coastal beccariophoenix Madagascar. Beccariophoenix fenestralis J. Dransfield & M. Rakotoarinivo "giant windowpane palm"Madagascar.
The 'windows' palm was originally classified as a variant of B. madagascariensis,Shapcott, A., Rakotoarinivo, M., Smith, R. J., Lysakova, G., Fay, M. F., & Dransfield, J. (2007). Can we bring Madagascar's critically endangered palms back from the brink? Genetics, ecology and conservation of the critically endangered palm Beccariophoenix madagascariensis. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 154 (4): 589-608 . but was given its own name in June 2014.
References