''Verschaffeltia splendida'' ("Latanier Latte" or stilt palmPalmpedia
/ref>) 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 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 the only species in the genus ''Verschaffeltia''. It is found only in

Seychelles Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (french: link=no, République des Seychelles; Creole: ''La Repiblik Sesel''), is an archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, V ...

where it 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 ...

. The name comes from the Belgian

Ambroise Verschaffelt Ambroise Colette Alexandre Verschaffelt (11 December 1825 – 16 May 1886) was a distinguished Belgian horticulturist and author. His grandfather Pierre-Antoine (1764–1844) was amongst the founders of the "Floralies gantoises" in 1808. His f ...

Description

This species can be distinguished from all other palm species of the Seychelles, by its characteristic stilt-roots. The slender trunk has a very hard outer covering. The leaves are initially unbroken, and those of the young plants have black spines on their stalks. They bear green-brown fruits with unique seeds. File:Verschaffeltia splendida - roots.jpg, The stilt-roots of this species File:Verschaffeltia splendida 2zz.jpg, The black spines that cover the stem and leaves of young plants File:Fata Morgana 2012 Prague Verschaffeltia splendida.jpg, The unbroken young leaves

References

Verschaffeltiinae Trees of Seychelles Conservation dependent plants Endemic flora of Seychelles Monotypic Arecaceae genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{palm-stub