Tahina spectabilis Living Plant image: Dransfield et al. 7777 Credit: J. Dransfield

Distribution: Endemic to Madagascar

Life Form/Habit: Tree

Bioclimate: Dry

Vegetation Formation: Grassland, Inselberg/Rock Face

Elevation (m): 0-499

Province: Mahajanga

Rarity: Known only from a single locality

Note: This remarkable species only discovered in 2005, was featured in several international news articles on its date of publication (17 Jan. 2008) as the "Self destructing palm tree" or "Suicidal palm" due to its monocarpic nature.

Type(s) of accepted name: RAKOTOARINIVO RMJ337 (HT: K; IT: BH, MO, P, TAN)

Type(s) of syns and other voucher(s): Link