Propagation
Collect and sow seed when ripe, keep moist, maintaining a temperature of 25şC (77ş F). Germination normally takes 45 days and the viability period is short.

Do not allow the seeds to dry out before sowing as this slows or inhibits germination.


Botanic information
Leaf: The crown consists of 8-10 spreading arching pinnate fronds with linear pinnae that are up to 300 mm (1ft) long by 50 mm (2in) wide with the terminal pair basally fused.

The upper leaf margin is longer and the toothed apex is obtuse. It has a yellowish petiole that sheaves the trunk forming a greenish crown shaft that is white and woolly when young.

Flower: The pendant inflorescence is up to 400 mm (16in) long and appears below the crown shaft on a short peduncle and has deciduous tubular bracts. The rachis is elongated and is twice branched with the flowers arranged in threes, 2-male to 1-female towards the end of the branchlets. They appear during early winter but the flowering period may vary in tropical regions.

Note
The symmetrical male flowers have 3-imbricate sepals and 3-valvate petals with many stamens that have erect filaments and the pistillode is ovoid to elongate. The female flower has 3-imbricate sepals and petals. They have tiny sterile stamens with a one cell ovary that contains one ovule and has 3-stigmas.

Fruit: The small ovoid drupe has a thin orange-red endocarp and the seeds have 3 to 5-longitudinal groves (sulcate) and have endosperm. The flowering and fruiting period may vary in tropical regions and this plant may be reproduced vegetatively.