Great Barrier Island Nikau...

While mowing the lawn today I noticed the big head of flower on my Nikau Palm.. It is a interesting plant and good value as a larger plant to the garden .. Rhopalostylis Sapida is the botanical name .. It is a Palm that is endemic to New Zealand and the only palm that is native to New Zealand .. It is also the most Southerly growning palm in the world..
The stem of flowers pops out from the base of the lowest leaf and then after some time the leaf pops off hence the rings you can see around the trunk..

[kali]

we have lots down here, i like the 'tentacles'

[Margo]

This is very beautiful Never seen this one!!

[Shutterbug]

Beautiful plant. Unusual to me.

[Marnie]

Very unusual, I like it.

[julia]

@kali66 Yes I love the 'Forest' of them around Punukaiki... The Great Barrier Is one seems to be bigger and faster growing than the mainland on .. some great examples on the Chathams as well...

[Ethel]

Beautiful, interesting plant.

[Maggiemae]

Wow - its a bit like the flower on the cabbage tree! You need to see it up close to realise how pretty the flower is!

[Rob Z]

It's quite a different colour for a palm flower stalk - it looks very interesting.

[Joan Robillard]

Beautiful

[Lou Ann]

A beautiful flower indeed. Certainly a new palm to me.

[Babs]

What a beautiful plant, so unusual.

[Jennie B.]

Very unusual and pretty (unusual to me from New York) lol!

[mittens (Marilyn)]

Beautiful.

[Pat Knowles]

Ooh very pretty Jukz...I don't know this plant at all....it’s very unusual coming straight out of the stem like that.

[haskar]

Beautiful plant. Thanks for sharing.

[julia]

@happypat I am sure you would of seen it in our Native bush pat .. I will take another pic and send it to you..

[Hope D Jennings]

What an unusual plant! Love the color.

[KWind]

Wonderful texture!

[Jane Morley]

What an amazing plant!