Rhopalostylis

Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxoboxRhopalostylis is a genus of two species of palms native to the South Pacific. Both are smooth-trunked, with regular ringed scars from fallen leaves. The leaves are 3–5 m in length, and the leaf bases encircle the trunk.

Distribution

Rhopalostylis baueri occurs on Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands northeast of New Zealand; the Kermadec Islands population, formerly separated as R. cheesemanii, was included in R. baueri in 2005 after comparison revealed no significant differences. R. sapida, known as the nikau palm, is the only palm native to mainland New Zealand, and is found in lowland forests in the North Island, in coastal areas of the South Island as far south as Banks Peninsula, and on the Chatham Islands at 44°S. R. sapida thus has the southernmost range of any palm genus.

Classification

Subfamily: Arecoideae; tribe: Areceae; subtribe: Rhopalostylidinae. Rhopalostylis is closely related to the Lord Howe Island genus Hedyscepe.

Species

Image	Trunk	Scientific name	Common name	Distribution
File:Gardenology.org-IMG 0944 rbgs10dec.jpg	File:Gardenology.org-IMG 0945 rbgs10dec.jpg	Rhopalostylis baueri	Norfolk Island palm, niau, Kermadec nikau	Norfolk Island (Australia) and Kermadec Islands (New Zealand)
File:Nikau Palme 01.jpg	File:Nikau MRD.jpg	Rhopalostylis sapida	Nīkau	New Zealand the North Island, and on the South Island as far south as Okarito, west and Banks Peninsula in the east. Chatham Island and Pitt Island/Rangiauria

References

• de Lange, P.J.; Gardner, R.O.; Crowcroft, G.M.; Stalker, F.; Cameron, E.K.; Braggins, J.E; Christian, M.L. 2005: Vascular flora of Norfolk Island: some additions and taxonomic notes. New Zealand Journal of Botany 43: 563-596.
• Kew palms checklist: Rhopalostylis