Dypsis humilis

Dypsis humilis is an unusual new species of stemless palm from northeast Madagascar, and is known from a single site above the Antainambalana River, west-northwest of Maroantsetra in disturbed rain forest on granitic ridge top, 100-200 m. This low-growing, shrub-like palm has no visible stem. Its leaves, around 8 per plant, sprout like a shuttlecock directly from the ground. Each leaf is about 80 cm long and has around 16 leathery leaflets. The flowers develop on insignificant inflorescences that appear among the leaves at the base of the plant. The fruits are sickle-shaped, about 2 cm in length.