''Dypsis decipiens'', the Manambe palm, is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the Palm family (

Arecaceae The Arecaceae is a family of perennial flowering plants in the monocot order Arecales. Their growth form can be climbers, shrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly known as palms. Those having a tree-like form are called palm trees ...

). It is found only in the central highlands of

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

, between

Fianarantsoa Fianarantsoa is a city (commune urbaine) in south central Madagascar, and is the capital of Haute Matsiatra Region. History It was built in the early 19th century by the Merina as the administrative capital for the newly conquered Betsileo king ...

and

Andilamena Andilamena is a rural commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Andilamena, which is a part of Alaotra-Mangoro Region. The population of the commune was 37,229 in 2018. In addition to primary schooling the town offers secondary educatio ...

at 1,200 to 1,700 meters elevation. The species is threatened by

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

, increasing frequency of fires, and over-exploitation of its seeds for the horticultural trade. Its most unique characteristic is that it commonly produces twin trunks like the letter "V", each trunk being up to in height and up to 28 inches (70 centimeters) DBH (diameter at breast height). There can also be three trunks, or a single trunk.

References

decipiens Endemic flora of Madagascar Flora of the Madagascar subhumid forests Vulnerable plants Taxa named by Odoardo Beccari Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Areceae-stub