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Bizarre Self-Destructing Palm Tree Found
Smivs writes "A giant self-destructing palm tree has been discovered in Madagascar. The palm is 20m (60ft) high with leaves 5m (16ft) long, the tallest tree of its type in the country, but for most of its life — around 100 years — it appears fairly unremarkable apart from its size. However, when it flowers, it puts so much energy into an impressive flower-spike, that it eventually collapses and dies.
Dr John Dransfield, who announced the tree in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, is baffled as to how it came to be in the country.
It bears a resemblance to a species of palm found in regions of Asia; 6,000km away. It is thought that the palm has gone through a remarkable evolution since Madagascar split with India some 80m years ago."
This isn't the first germinate-then-die species.
It may, however, be among the largest and the first to use gravity to kill itself.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
Google Sightseeing is on the case. Unfortunately the image isn't that great.
The first. The botanical term is monocarpic.
More commonly known examples of this botanical phenomenon are the Century Plant (Agave americana) and many species of high altitude bromeliads in the genus Puya, found primarily in the Andes.
I think Google Maps/Google Earth don't have the most detailed satellite information for most of Madagascar. So the level of detail at which it's surprising to be able to see this tree could perhaps be one zoom level out from the level at which it's unsurprising to be able to see cars.
Sparrow? Your Geek Card, please.