Because of its bright red crownshafts and leaf sheaths, Cyrtostachys renda has become a popular ornamental plant exported to many tropical regions around the world.[13] Although it is not the source of sealing wax, the red sealing wax palm got its name because its crownshafts and leaf sheaths have the same color as the wax used to seal letters close and later (from about the 16th century) envelopes.[14]
Also known as the red palm, rajah palm, and Malay: pinang rajah,[15]Cyrtostachys renda is a slender multi-stemmed, slow-growing, clustering palm tree.[16] It can grow to 16 metres (52 feet) tall.[17] It has a scarlet to bright red colored crownshaft and leaf sheath, making it distinct from all other species of Arecaceae.[18]
The plant's stipe grows up to 10 centimetres (3.9 inches) in diameter. Its petioles grow up to 15 centimetres (5.9 inches) long and have pinnateleaves have about 50 pairs of pinnae. The plant's fruits are ovoid, 1.4 centimetres (0.55 inches) in diameter, green, turning to a dark bluish-black when ripe.[13][18]
The use of Crytostachys lakka (and Cyrtostachys lacca) as a synonym for Cyrtostachys renda was developed by ItalianbotanistOdoardo Beccari. The Italian word "lacca" means lacquer or varnish.[notes 1]
Ornamental Cyrtostachys renda in a garden in Suva, Fiji
The lipstick palm is generally grown for its brightly colored and unusual foliage and it is considered as a plant in high demand for gardening and a landscaping projects.[16] Because of difficulties propagating them and their striking color, the palm has been offered for sale at prices as high as $1000 USD to collectors and gardeners.[21] It also has some limited traditional uses such as for flooring materials, roof thatching, and for making darts in Pahang and elsewhere in Malaysia.[10][13] Some rural communities in Sumatra harvest the plant for palm hearts.[17][22]
Propagation can occur with fresh seeds, although they are slow to germinate, or through dividing out suckers.[23] In the wild, the most suitable environment for growth occurs in areas of Southeast Asian lowland peat swamp forests with the following characteristics: good soil drainage, high sand content in the soil, a thin peat layer in the soil, a low carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) in the soil, low acid, and nutrient levels in the soil and water but relatively high organic substance levels.[10] The palm grows well in full sun or shade but needs humid conditions and well-draining soil. However, it also tolerates flooding and can grow in standing water as its native habitat is peat swamp forests.[18] It will not tolerate cold temperatures or periods of drought;[16] it is rated as hardiness zone 11 or above and is suited to tropical rainforest or equatorial climate (Koppen Af), which doesn't have a significant dry season.
Cyrtostachys renda was listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List in 1995.[24][10] In 1999, the government of Indonesia protected it from harvest through implementing legislation.[25][22] In 2000, the IUCN removed Cyrtostachys renda from its list of protected species.[26]
^Beccari, Odoardo (1884–85). Malesia, raccolta d'osservazioni lese e papuano (v. 1) (in Italian).
^Widyatmoko, Didik (2001). "5"(PDF). Autecology and Conservation Management of a Rare Palm Species: The Case Study of Lipstick Palm Cyrtostachys renda Blume in Kerumutan Wildlife Sanctuary, Riau (Postgraduate Programme). Bogor Agricultural University. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
^ abcHeatubun, Charlie D.; Baker, William J.; Mogea, Johanis P.; Harley, Madeline M.; Tjitrosoedirdjo, Sri S.; Dransfield, John (March 2009). "A monograph of Cyrtostachys (Arecaceae)". Kew Bulletin. 64 (1): 67–94. doi:10.1007/s12225-009-9096-4. S2CID23149288.
^Cyrtostachys renda(jpg) (Plant information plaque). Huntington Gardens, Los Angeles, CA: Gardenology.org. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2013 – via Wikimedia Commons.
^Jones, David L. (1995). Palms throughout the world. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN978-1-56098-616-4.
^ abWidyatmoko, Didik; Burgman, M.A.; Guhardja, E.; Mogea, J.P.; Walujo, E.B.; Setiadi, D. (2005). "Population status, demography and habitat preferences of the threatened lipstick palm Cyrtostachys renda Blume in Kerumutan Reserve, Sumatra". Acta Oecologica. 28 (2): 107–118. Bibcode:2005AcO....28..107W. doi:10.1016/j.actao.2005.03.003.
^Widyatmoko, Didik (2009). "Seed germination, seedling establishment and vegetative development of the threatened palm Cyrtostachys renda Blume". Jurnal Biologi Indonesia. 5: 391–410.
^IUCN, 1995. Rare and Threatened Plants of Indonesia (25 October 1995). IUCN Red Data Book 1995 (Summary).
^Indonesian Government’s Legislation No, 7, 1999. The Protection of the Indonesian Threatened Plant and Animal Species. Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Nomor 7 Tahun 1999 Tentang Pengawetan Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa. Jakarta.
^IUCN, 2000. 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Compiled by Craig Hilton-Taylor). IUCN Species Survival Commission, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
