| Phoenicophorium | |
|---|---|
| |
| Phoenicophorium borsigianum | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Subfamily: | Arecoideae |
| Tribe: | Areceae |
| Subtribe: | Verschaffeltiinae |
| Genus: | Phoenicophorium H.Wendl. |
| Species: | P. borsigianum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Phoenicophorium borsigianum (K. Koch) Stuntz
| |
Phoenicophorium, the thief palm, is a monotypic genus of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae. The sole species is Phoenicophorium borsigianum.
It is endemic to the Seychelles, being fairly widespread on the larger islands of the group, such as Mahé, Silhouette, Praslin, and La Digue.[2]
It is found in forests, but is one of only a few native plants in the Seychelles that can colonise dry and eroded areas, as it is capable of withstanding full sunlight and periods of drought.[3]
A palm growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1857 was stolen, giving rise to the common name of 'thief palm'.[3]
- ^ Ismail, S.; Huber, M.J.; Mougal, J. (2011). "Phoenicophorium borsigianum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T38628A10140330. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T38628A10140330.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Robertson, S.A. (1989). Flowering Plants of the Seychelles. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ^ a b Wise, R. A. (1998). Fragile Eden. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.