Thursday, March 29, 2007

Talipot palm

This palm might have the largest leaf of any plant. It is rare in south Florida. This year was warm enough that it grew vigorously all winter long (it stops growing when the soil temperature drops below 60 degrees. This particular palm is 20 years old and just starting to speed up its growth. It takes 40 to 70 years to bloom and then it dies. But it will produce up to 2,000 pounds of seed.