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Spikebark Palmfern

Shrub type: Coniferous (Stores water in its stem)

This modest-sized shrub grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 124 years old. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has dozens of sturdy, wavy stems covered in wrinkled, dark brown bark, and the wood inside is black.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with thousands of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of large, sickle shaped, leaves with ripped edges. The leaves themselves are peach and light brown, flexible and waxy.

In late spring it produces a handful of tiny, dark grey flowers with slender, pointed petals. They detach easily and have a powerful scent that smells like coconut.

The trunk and branches are covered in large spikes.
It is excellent at collecting and storing carbon dioxide
It is suitable for making strong rope
It aggressively steals nutrients from other large plants (but not each other).