Trachycarpus oreophilus
Solitary polygamo-dioecious palm. Stem up to 9 m tall at maturity, 10–16 cm diam., erect, naked, conspicuously ringed. Leaves 20–25 in crown; sheath c. 25–30 cm long dissolving in spreading fine fibres; petiole 40–50 cm long, margins minutely toothed and somewhat tomentose; adaxial hastula prominent to 3 cm long; blade rounded in outline, moderately undulate to flat, 90–110 cm diam., evenly splitting to c. ½ radius, into 60–90, single-folded segments, individual segments shortly indented, green adaxially, glaucous green abaxially. Inflorescences 3–5 on one palm, arching, prophyll 15–25 cm long, peduncular bracts and rachis bracts similar, 15–35 cm long, decreasing in length towards the distal parts, tubular proximally, inflated distally; male inflorescences 30–50 cm long, with 15–20 cm long peduncle; female (sometimes hermaphroditic?) inflorescences 80–100 cm long, with 30-50 cm long peduncle; rachillae 3–10 cm long, stiff. Flowers minute in bud. Fruit kidney-shaped, 0.6–0.8 cm long and 10–12 cm wide, yellow to yellowish brown at maturity.
Critical. Restricted to a few limestone mountains ranges where populations have been severely decimated by wild fires probably caused by illegal cultivation of opium poppies.
Global — Endemic to Northern Thailand.
Thailand — NORTHERN: Chiang Mai.
Restricted to limestone, often growing at the edge of precipices. Narrow endemic to a few mountain ranges near Chiang Mai. Today it only occurs on the highest ridges from 1800-2175 m but may have been much more common in the mountain forests at lower altitudes.
A fine ornamental; there is a demand for seed for the international horticultural trade.