Family: ARECACEAE
Genus: Cyrtostachys
Species: renda
Species Author: Blume
Vernacular: Sealing Wax Palm, lipstick palm, pinang raja (Malaysia)
Synonyms: C. lakka
Lipstick palm, known by the scientific name Cyrtostachys renda, reaches 16 m in height and forms dense clusters, as multiple stems arise from the base. Stems are 5-14 cm in diameter. The leaves are compound, meaning that the leaf blade is divided into leaflets, which allows the leaves to be large (and therefore to have a large surface to intercept sunlight) without being too heavy. Each leaf contains around 50 leaflets, each of which is long and narrow can be up to 45 cm long. The leaf bases, forming the crownshaft, the stems, and the leaf stalks (petioles) are a bright red color. This species is monoecious, meaning that pollen and ovules are produced in separate flowers on the same tree. The flowers are found in clusters that are 60 cm long and that are visible beneath the green foliage. The fruit of this species are oblong in shape, up to 1 cm long, and are black with a scarlet base when mature.
(Widyatmolo, K. M.A. Burgman, E.Guhardja, J. Mogea, E. Walugo, and D. Setiadi. 2005. Population status, demography and habitat preferences of the threatened lipstick palm Cyrtostachys renda Blume in Kerumutan Reserve, Sumatra. Acta Oecologica 28: 107-118.)
This is a very popular species in cultivation due to its striking appearing and the red coloration in the stem and leaf stalks. Unfortunately it is sensitive to cold temperatures and cannot tolerate temperatures below 60 degrees F, and therefore it is most suited for cultivation in strictly tropical climates. It can be grown from seeds, and fresh seeds germinate in 2-3 months.
The stems of Cyrtostachys renda are utilized by local communities in Sumatra to construct the floors of shelters known as bagan that are used for fishing activities. The outer part of the stem is used for making darts. The seeds of a related species Cyrtostachys elegans are utilized in the Bewani Mountains of Papua New Guinea.
(Widyatmolo, K. M.A. Burgman, E.Guhardja, J. Mogea, E. Walugo, and D. Setiadi. 2005. Population status, demography and habitat preferences of the threatened lipstick palm Cyrtostachys renda Blume in Kerumutan Reserve, Sumatra. Acta Oecologica 28: 107-118.)
Cyrtostachys renda is native to the Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand, Borneo, and Sumatra. It grows in lowland peat swamps, tidal coastal areas, and riverbanks. Peat swamps are forests that have a layer of peat formation that can range from 0.5-1.5 m in depth. This species grows in forest adjacent to seasonally waterlogged habitats and does not tolerate long-term inundation. This species is introduced in the Cook Islands and other tropical areas where it is cultivated as an ornamental palm.
(Widyatmolo, K. M.A. Burgman, E.Guhardja, J. Mogea, E. Walugo, and D. Setiadi. 2005. Population status, demography and habitat preferences of the threatened lipstick palm Cyrtostachys renda Blume in Kerumutan Reserve, Sumatra. Acta Oecologica 28: 107-118.)
Local communities in Sumatra eat the growing tip of the stem (palm heart).
(Widyatmolo, K. M.A. Burgman, E.Guhardja, J. Mogea, E. Walugo, and D. Setiadi. 2005. Population status, demography and habitat preferences of the threatened lipstick palm Cyrtostachys renda Blume in Kerumutan Reserve, Sumatra. Acta Oecologica 28: 107-118.)
Cyrtostachys renda was listed as threatened by the IUCN in 1995 but was removed from the IUCN red list in 2000. It is protected in Indonesia under legislation to protect threatened plant and animal species. In Sumatra lowland forests are being significantly reduced as a result of the development of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), coconut (Cocos nucifera), and pineapple (Ananas comosus) plantations.
The congeneric species Cyrtostachys kisu is native to the Solomon Islands where it is found in lowland to submontane rainforest. Threats to these habitat types such as conversion of forests for agriculture, mining, and for timber extraction may threaten the persistence of this species in the wild. Currently not enough is known about the distribution of this species and its abundance to assess the ongoing risks to this species.
(Dowl, J.L. 1998. Cyrtostachys kisu. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. . Downloaded on 19 June 2007.)
(Widyatmolo, K. M.A. Burgman, E.Guhardja, J. Mogea, E. Walugo, and D. Setiadi. 2005. Population status, demography and habitat preferences of the threatened lipstick palm Cyrtostachys renda Blume in Kerumutan Reserve, Sumatra. Acta Oecologica 28: 107-118.)
