Bismarckia nobilis

Bismarckia nobilis Hildebrandt & H. Wendl.

Common Names: Bismarck Palm

Family: Arecaceae

Habit: Bismarckia nobilis grows as a medium sized, single trunk tree up to 15 m in height and to 50 cm in diameter. The bark is ringed.  The dark green leaves are arranged spirally at the top of the trunk. The leaves are costa palmate, to 3 m in length and width. The outer portions of the lamina divided to about 1/3rd.  The petioles are to 3 m in length.

Bismarckia nobilis is dioecious. The incomplete, imperfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in a large panicle that arises below the lowest leaf. The calyx has 3 sepals and the corolla has 3 petals. The calyx and corolla are white and fused together forming a single whorl. Staminate flowers have 7-9 stamens and no carpel. The carpellate flowers have staminodes and a single ovary and ovule. The ovary is superior with a single locule and seed.   The fruit is a drupe that is dark brown at maturity.

Habitat: Bismarckia nobilis grows in Human Altered environments (yards and gardens).

Distribution: Bismarckia nobilis is not native to the Lucayan Archipelago.  It is native to Madagascar

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Bismarckia nobilis is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.

It is in the horticultural trade throughout the tropics and subtropics.