19
Beaucarnea recurvata Lem.
Synonym : Dasylirion recurvatum Lem.
Family
: Asparagaceae
Local
Names : Ponytail palm, Elephant’s foot
Flowering and fruiting period: Not specified
Distribution: Native of Mexico, Australia,
Asia and America
Habitat: Grown as ornamental plant
IUCN status: Data Deficient
Endemic: No
Uses: ornamental, indoor plant,
drought tolerant
Key Characters: Ponytail palm is an evergreen
perennial growing up to 15 ft tall with a noticeable expanded stem base, for
storing water. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the true
palms. The single palm-like stem produces at branch-ends clusters of
strap-shaped, recurved leathery leaves. The plant blooms with panicles of small
white flowers once the plant reaches over 10 years of age.