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Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)
Name - Howea is pronounced HOW-ay-a and was named after Lord Howe Island
in Australia. Balfouriana is from Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour (1853-1922), professor
of botany and keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. It is commonly called
Kentia palm (the genus it used to be thought to belong to) or sentry palm.
Description - It is a slender upright palm with single stems carrying
attractive arching green fronds.
Family - Palmae
Origin
- Lord Howe Island, Australia
Care Tips - It is a very easy palm
to grow. Filtered sunlight is best, though it will tolerate poor light but not
grow so well. Temperatures between 13° and 25° C (55° to 77°)
are needed. Water it well in summer, but allow the top of the growing medium to
dry out between waterings. Feed every two weeks in the growing season. In winter
in centrally heated rooms, mist it often and keep the compost just moist.
Trivia - This palm is one of the plants which Dr Ronald Wood has used
in ongoing research on toxin removal, alongside peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) and
dracaena "Janet Craig". The interesting thing is that all of these plants
have been shown not only to absorb toxins, but also to increase their rate of
absorption as the toxin levels are increased.
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