Tahina palm

Tahina palm, (Tahina spectabilis), sole member of the palm tree genus Tahina (family Arecaceae). The palm is characterized by its spectacular end-of-life flowering. It is endemic to the Analalava district of northwestern Madagascar, where it inhabits seasonally flooded scrublands. The species was discovered in 2008 by Malagasy cashew grower Xavier Metz; the palm is named for Metz’s daughter, Anne-Tahina Metz. Tahina in the Malagasy language means “blessed.” The Tahina palm possesses a massive trunk that...