Verschaffeltia splendida

Verschaffeltia splendida.
The 'Seychelles Stilt Palm' is one of the most splendid of all palms indeed. It requires tropical conditions and plenty of space as it is capable of reaching 15m in height, and is ferociously spiny. It has unusual leaves for a palm because they are entire, without being sub divided into leaflets, unless exposed to wind as the plants in this photo are, growing here on a hill in a mountainous region of southern Costa Rica in Wilson Botanical Garden.