''Arenga hookeriana'' (commonly known as the hooker fishtail palmNParks Flora & Fauna Web
''nparks.gov.sg''.) is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

in the family

Arecaceae The Arecaceae () is a family (biology), family of perennial plant, perennial, flowering plants in the Monocotyledon, monocot order Arecales. Their growth form can be climbing palm, climbers, shrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly k ...

found in

Peninsular Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia, historically known as Malaya and also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, is the western part of Malaysia that comprises the southern part of the Malay Peninsula on Mainland Southeast Asia and the list of isla ...

and Thailand.

Description

This understory

palm Palm most commonly refers to: * Palm of the hand, the central region of the front of the hand * Palm plants, of family Arecaceae ** List of Arecaceae genera **Palm oil * Several other plants known as "palm" Palm or Palms may also refer to: Music ...

forms dense clumps, producing multiple slender, brown cane-like stems that emerge from the base. It thrives in shaded environments and is well-adapted to humid, tropical conditions. Its clustering growth habit allows it to spread gradually, creating a bushy appearance. The stems are covered with persistent

leaf A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the plant stem, stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leav ...

bases, giving the plant a textured look. The leaves are

palmate The following terms are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (that is, the leaf blade or 'lamina' is undivided) or compound (that is, the leaf blade is divided into two or more leaflets ...

, dark green on the upper surface, and feature a striking silvery underside that enhances their visual appeal. They are typically undivided, with an oblong shape and slightly indented or lobed margins. The tips of the leaves are sharply pointed, and the leaf structure is supported by long, sturdy petioles extending from the base. These petioles are smooth and provide flexibility, allowing the leaves to sway with the wind. The palm produces

inflorescences In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a main axis ( pe ...

that emerge from between the leaves. These are typically simple, though occasionally branched, and consist of individual peduncles for male and female

flowers Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

, which grow on separate stems. The flowers are small but numerous, contributing to the plant's ornamental appea

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15509423 Arenga, hookeriana Flora of Peninsular Malaysia Flora of Thailand