Alexandra Palm vs Bangalow or Piccabean Palm

Eric Frei

Identifying these two palms can be tough in the field. So I have for some time now been closely observing their differences. Of course in the field you need to tell by looking at them and not cutting off fresh leaves etc.

So I have found some solid differences. I used to think that the Alexandra palm was more silvery beneath when you looked up and the Bangalow was more yellowy. I also used to think that Alexandra palm fronds were flat and straighter and Bangalow palm fronds were sort of twisted and side on ... but do not go by any of that as it is inconsistent. I took many photo's of palms side by side from underneath and no way would you tell by looking up .... especially if they were not side by side, then you'd have nothing to compare to. So I have got something better now.

The first thing is a distance shot of the 2 palms.

This is an Alexandra palm below



This is a group Bangalow palms below



The first difference to look for is that the Alexandra palms have a bulbous base where they meet the ground and Bangalow palms are a lot straighter like a telegraph pole going into the ground.

This is the base of an Alexandra palm below



This is the base of a Bangalow palm below



Next we look at the crown shaft, that's where the grey trunk ends and the head green part starts up to the fronds. What you will notice is that the Alexandra palm is green and the Bangalow palm is greenish brown or streaked lines of brown within the green.

This is an Alexandra palm crown shaft below



This is a Bangalow palm crown shaft below



Another difference between the fronds is that Alexandra palms are greener on the spine of the frond where it meets the crownshaft, there can be a little bit of discolouration but nothing like the Bangalow palms (be aware of an aging or dying frond). The Bangalows have a brownish tinge on the spines of their fronds.

This is the Alexandra palm below



This is the Bangalow palm below



And the final difference is the fronds themselves. The fronds of the Alexandra palm tend to have a twist to them whilst the Bangalow palm tend to come out a little straighter. The Alexandra palm frond tends to be shorter. The Alexandra palm fron leaflets are thinner and stiffer, they tend not to droop either side of the spine of the fron like the Bangalow palms do.

This is an Alexandra palm below



This is a Bangalow palm below



I hope that helps, certainly has straightened me out. for me the easiest way is look at the base then look at the crown shaft.

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MrDiesel

Im not sure ifs a good method or not but i tell the difference by the weeping look of the Bangalow, Looks like i might have been a bit dodgy in my IDs

Garry Brockley

Great explanation Eric i think weve all miss id'd those in the past. good call mate

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JoeOtto

Hi,

Thought another obvious difference between Alex and Bangalow palms is that
the Alex palms have a distinct white sheen on the underside of the fronds. The Bangalows do not have this. Would you agree with that?

JoeOtto

he he he,

so silly, just reread what you posted at first Eric about the sheen underneath

and how it's not reliable. That will teach me to read things twice. Ignore last post!

Eric Frei

This is a shot where two are together.

The bangalow is on the left and the alex is on the right, both look yellowy beneath.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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