Rhapis excelsa, commonly known as the lady palm or bamboo palm, is a species of fan palm native to southern China and Taiwan. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. The document provides details on the description, distribution, morphology, physiology, uses in landscaping, and cultivation of R. excelsa. It notes that R. excelsa grows in clusters up to 4 meters tall, with glossy divided leaves and small white flowers. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use due to its tolerance of low light and humidity. The document discusses the palm's morphology, physiology, uses in landscaping, and methods of propagation.

1. INTRODUCTION
Rhapis excelsa also known as Broadleaf Lady Palm is a species of fan palm (Arecaceae
subfamily Coryphoideae, tribe Corypheae) in the genus Rhapis, probably native to
southern China and Taiwan. It is not known in the wild; all known plants come from
cultivated groups in China. They were first collected by the Japanese for Tokugawa
shogunate palaces, then popularity spread to Europe, and later to America where its
low light and humidity requirements make it a common feature in malls and offices. The
genus name is Greek - rhapis, meaning "needle"; and the species name is Latin for "tall", an
ironic name choice as R. excelsa is not the tallest in the genus. Rhapis excelsa tree of choice
for grown as an ornamental landscape as it is rugged, easy to care for and slow growing.
Rhapis excelsa is tumbahan kind of family Arecaceae palm. This palm plant native to China
and is grown in almost all over the world as an ornamental tree. Rhapis excelsa known as
bamboo or bamboo palm palm. This palm tree is more like Palas, but smaller size and lower.
Tree height is about 4 meters and multiply by the fraction of clumps and seeds. Rhapis are
some of the easiest palms to grow, but each species has its own particular environment and
culture requirements. This makes Rhapis very versatile. Both 6″ and 8″ pots can be used as
table top and accent plants, while 10″ and up are free standing specimens. Wherever you may
live, Rhapis is one plant that will thrive in house or landscape. Location Lady palm is native
to warm forests of Southeast China. Many other species of Rhapis are found all over
Southeast Asia from southern China to Thailand. A related species, Rhapis humilis, is also a
popular landscape plant but is less often seen. Lady palm has been naturalized in shopping
mall and office lobby planters all over North America.
Culture Light: Grow in shade to part shade for best leaf color. Plants grown in direct sun tend
to fade to yellow green and tip burn in hot weather if not provided adequate
moisture. Moisture: Adaptable to most soils. Maintain adequate moisture for best appearance.
This palm can survive periods of drought once established. Hardiness: USDA Zones 9 - 11.
Can survive temperatures down to mid twenties without damage. Lower temperatures will
kill stems but plant may recover. Propagation: Propagate from seed or division of clumps.
Features: this is a romantic small palm that can be enjoyed indoors and out. It needs little care
and can survive brief periods of drought. It can tolerate harsh interior conditions and still look
fresh. Lady palm is available at most garden center stores and nurseries.

2. DESCRIPTION
The thin trunks of this delightful little fan palm can reach 10' in height to form sizable
clusters of foliage. These trunks are covered with interesting leaf scar patterns and are
wrapped with mats of brown fiber. Shiny green leaves are deeply divided into 1" strap-like
segments and are held erect on 12" to 18" stems. This plant has been grown as an ornamental
in China and Japan for centuries. They were brought to Europe in the 18th century but didn't
arrive on the American landscape scene until the early sixties (used to decorate modern
"ranch" houses and Japanese inspired interiors).
R. excelsa grows up to 4 m in height and 30 mm in diameter in multi-stemmed clumps with
glossy, palmate leaves divided into broad, ribbed segments. Leaf segments are single or few
in young plants and increase to a dozen or more in mature plants; the segments are divided to
the petiole, or nearly so. Leaf-ends are saw-toothed unlike most other palms, occurring on
slender petioles ranging from 20 to 60 cm in length. New foliage emerges from a fibrous
sheath which remains attached to the base. As the plants age, the sheaths fall, revealing the
bamboo-like trunks. This usually dioecious palm species produces a small inflorescence at
the top of the plant with spirally-arranged, fleshy flowers containing three petals fused at the
base. Ripe fruit are fleshy and white, though R. excelsa more readily propagates via
underground rhizome offshoots. Stems to 2.5 m tall, with sheaths 15–21 mm in diam.,
without sheaths 8–12 mm. Leaf sheath loosely sheathing the stem, usually with outer and
inner fibers of similar thickness, producing a squared mesh, some young sheaths with flatter,
coarser outer fibers and tomentum, ligule not remaining intact at maturity; petiole to 4 mm
wide, margin often smooth, rarely minutely scabrid, often bearing brown papillae; blade with
V-shaped or semi-circular outline, variable in size, often with a conspicuous palman,
segments (1)4–13, folds 11–25, to 375 mm long, broad, relatively straightsided, narrowing
slightly at base and apex, apices sometimes cucculate, usually truncate, with regular dentate
secondary splitting, primary splits to within 2.5–61 mm of the blade base, sometimes with
brown papillae at the base and along the ribs, sometimes scabrid along the adaxial ribs, thick
in texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces similar in colour, often with a yellow tinge, adaxial
occasionally darker, transverse veinlets conspicuous. Inflorescence, male and female similar
in general appearance, branching to 2 or 3 orders; prophyll tubular, overlapping the base of
the first rachis bract, relatively thin in texture, reddish brown, sometimes darker at the base,

3. inner surface smooth, outer surface with tomentum often only at the distal end; rachis bracts 2
(–3), sometimes with a distal incomplete rachis bract, similar in appearance to prophyll rachis
overall length to 260 mm, 4–8 mm in diam., rachillae 7.5–110 mm long, 0.8–1.9 mm in
diam., usually glabrous, pale brown, sometimes with small patches of caducous tomentum.
Flowers densely packed on the rachillae. Male flowers globose when young, elongating when
mature to 5.2 × 3.8 mm; calyx to 2.8 mm, lobes to 2 mm, usually with a regular margin;
corolla sometimes narrowed into a short receptacular-stalk to 1 mm; filaments, shorter row to
2.2 mm, longer row to 2.5 mm, broad, to 0.4 mm, with adaxial keel, triangular in cross
section; pistillode sometimes present. Female flowers to 3.6 × 3.2 mm; calyx to 2.3 mm;
corolla with a receptacular-stalk to 1.1 mm; staminodes present. Fruit sometimes with 3
carpels developing, often only one reaching maturity, to 8–10 × 8 mm, borne on a short
receptacular-stalk to 2 mm, epicarp shiny translucent, minutely papillose, with conspicuous
black lenticels. (L. Hastings. 2003) Editing by edric.
Two specimens [Malay Peninsula, plant house in a tub s.n. 1929 (K) and Kew, Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew s.n. 1856 (K)] have flowers that appear female but have well developed
anthers and may be hermaphrodite. Rhapis excelsa differs from R. humilis in having outer
leaf sheaths loosely sheathing the stem, ligule not remaining intact at maturity producing
many detached fibers; blade varying from both semi-circular to V-shaped in outline, thicker
in texture and a paler, more yellow-green in colour in dried specimens, often with fewer
segments, segments straighter sided with truncate apices and more regular dentate secondary
splitting, palman less conspicuous. While individual differences in the vegetative characters
are difficult to pinpoint between R. excelsa and R. humilis, when all the vegetative characters
are taken as a whole the leaves can be distinguished easily. Inflorescence characters are more
noticeably different. Rhapis excelsa differs in having glabrous rachis and rachillae at
maturity, tomentum often present on the bracts and stamens with broader keeled filaments;
not more than three rachis bracts were recorded, while four were recorded for R. humilis.
Rhapis excelsa may be of Chinese and Japanese origin, as suggested by the herbarium
specimens, or from China introduced to Japan and from there to the West. The long history of
cultivation probably accounts for the selection of many variants within the species including
dwarfism and variegation. The nomenclatural and taxonomic history of R. excelsa is
inextricably linked with that of R. humilis and so these aspects of the two species are
discussed together here.

4. DISTRIBUTION
China South-Central, China Southeast, Hainan, Japan, Nansei-shoto, and Vietnam, China,
Yunan South-Central China, Hainan, South East China, Guangdon, Fujian, Hongkong, Japan,
Habitat, woods, alt. 3080 ft (939 m), river valley, wooded mountain side, (L. Hastings. 2003)
DISCUSSION
MORPHOLOGY
The distribution of adventitious roots and lateral vegetative branches on seedlings, rhizomes,
and at the base of the aerial stem has been de- scribed and illustrated in the second and third
articles of this series (Tom-linson & Zimmermann, 1966a, b). Briefly, roots are abundant and
closely crowded on the seedling axis, widely and irregularly spaced on the rhizome and again
numerous at the base of erect shoots; vegetative branches de- velop either from buds in the
axils of transitional leaves on the juvenile or at the base of erect shoots. Buds may grow out
(usually in order of their age) into rhizomes but many are strongly inhibited, persisting as
reduced structures within the protective, somewhat woody prophyll. The subsequent account
refers largely to the attachment of roots on rhizomes and of branches to the base of erect
shoots. Their attachment to seedlings is briefly commented upon (cf. also Tomlinson &
Zimmermann, 1966b).
Whether as shrubs, trees, or vines, palms have two methods of growth: solitary or clustered.
The common representation is that of a solitary shoot ending in a crown of leaves. This
monopodial behavior may be exhibited by prostrate, trunkless, and trunk-forming members.
Some common palms restricted to solitary growth include Washingtonia and Roystonea.
Palms may instead grow in sparse to dense clusters. The trunk will develop an axillary bud at
a leaf node, usually near the base, from which a new shoot emerges.

5. The new shoot, in turn, produces an axillary bud and a clustering habit results. Exclusively
sympodial genera include many of the rattans, Guihaia, and Rhapis. Several palm genera
have both solitary and clustering members. Palms which are usually solitary may grow in
clusters, and vice versa. These aberrations suggest the habit operates on a single gene.
Palms have large, evergreen leaves that are either palmately ('fan-leaved') or pinnately
('feather-leaved') compound and spirally arranged at the top of the stem. The leaves have a
tubular sheath at the base that usually splits open on one side at maturity. The inflorescence is
a panicle or spike surrounded by one or more bracts or spathes that become woody at
maturity. The flowers are generally small and white, radially symmetric, and can be either
uni- or bi-sexual. The sepals and petals usually number three each, and may be distinct or
joined at the base. The stamens generally number six, with filaments that may be separate,
attached to each other, or attached to the pistil at the base. The fruit is usually a single-seeded
berry, but some genera (e.g. Salacca) may contain two or more seeds in each fruit.
Arecaceae are notable among monocots for their height and for the size of their seeds, leaves,
and inflorescences. Ceroxylon quindiuense, Colombia's national tree, is the tallest monocot in
the world, reaching heights of 60 meters. The coco de mer (Lodoicea maldivica) has the
largest seeds of any plant, 40–50 cm in diameter and weighing 15–30 kilograms each. Raffia
palms (Raphia spp.) have the largest leaves of any plant, up to 25 meters long and 3 meters
wide. The Corypha species have the largest inflorescence of any plant, up to 7.5 meters tall
and containing millions of small flowers. Calamus stems can reach 200 m in length.

6. PHYSIOLOGY
Physiological significance of vascular continuity. It is obvious that the discrete vascular
bundles represent the pathway for translocation of water and nutrients throughout the palm.
The present article completes a description of the continuous vascular system in Rhapis. The
channels for long distance conduction throughout the palm are now quite evident. Water from
the roots passes into the stem via the numerous linkages at the root insertion. A continuous
channel along the rhizome and up the stem is afforded by the axial bundle system which links
directly with each leaf via leaf traces. Cross-linkage is effected by the frequentbundles
associated with outgoing leaf traces. In the aerial stem the helical path of the central bundles
further promotes lateral and more uniform distribution of water. Vascular continuity into the
inflorescence is provided by inflorescence traces which diverge either directly from the
peripheral vertical bundles or as "satellites" from the major leaf traces this way the
inflorescence links with both peripheral and central bundles.Sew vegetativebranches are
also connected directly to the axial system.
USE IN LANDSCAPE
LANDSCAPE USE: Rhapis excelsa adapts to most tropical and subtropical landscapes. R.
subtilis thrives in warm, humid regions. R. humilis prefers subtropical landscapes with cool
summer nights. Use lady palm in the landscape to create dense screens and hedges. Thin out
stems and trim leaves to make a graceful accent for the patio or Japanese garden. Lady palm
can be used for foundation plantings and in outdoor tubs and planters. It is tough enough to
handle interior and urban situations. If used in pots, provide enough room for the clump to
expand, when stems reach the edge it's time to repot into a larger container.
VEGETATIVE METHOD
Attachment of root and vegetative branch has been revealed to a large extent incidentally
during analyses of rhizome and seedling axis. Methods of serial analysis using. In addition,
continuous series of sections through root insertio

7. USE AND MANAGEMENT
Lady palm needs partial to deep shade and fertile organic soil to look its best but will tolerate
the poor light, dust, and drought usual of indoor container culture. Be sure that drainage is
adequate for indoor use. Spreading slowly by underground stems, lady palm is usually
propagated by division. Make more divisions than you need since many canes may not
transplant successfully. There are several other species of Rhapis for different leaf sizes and
shapes. Pest problems include scale, palm aphids, sooty mold, and caterpillars, although none
are usually serious.
PESTS AND DISEASE
No diseases are of major concern.

8. OBJECTIVE
 The objective of the present study was to assess the influence of different types of leaf
and substrate fertilizer on seedling development of the Rhapis excelsa palm tree.
 Suitable for use in landscape architecture.
 The objective of this work was to study the effects of temperatures on seed
germination of Syagrus romanzoffiana ornamental palm.
REFERENCES
External Links:

PalmWeb

eMonocot

Wikipedia

Glossary of Palm Terms

Virtual palms encyclopedia
-Library
-Search internet
-Discuss with friend
-Website blogger

9. CONTENTS
BIL
TOPIC
1)
INTRODUCTION
2)
DESCRIPTION
3)
DISTRIBUTION
4)
DISCUSSION
-MORPHOLOGY/PHYSIOLOGY/USE IN
LANSCAPE ANDVEGETATIVE
METHOD
5)
SAMPLE PICTURE RHAPIS EXCELSA
6)
OBJECTIVE/REFERENCES
7)
CONCLUSION
PAGE

10. Palms Rhapis Excelsa
Scientific Name: Rhapis excelsa
Comman Name: Lady palm
Family: Arecacea/Palmae
Leaf type: Costapalmate
Genus: Rhapis
Habit: Clusting
Trunk diameter: 1 in
Height: 12 ft

11. SAMPLE/PICTURE PALMS RHAPIS EXCELSA

12. TITLE:
Rhapis excelsa
(AGR 260)
NAMA:
SITI NUR UMAIRATUL SYIKIN BINTI MOHD
HAMSAH
NAMA PENSYARAH:
MISS SARADATUL AKMA BINTI ABDUL
RAHMAN
NO. MATRIC:
2013481976