Bangalow Palm: (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)

http://itp.lucidcentral.org/id/palms/palm-id/Archontophoenix_cunninghamiana.htm

Common Names:  Piccabeen Palm, Bungalow PalmStems: Solitary, slender, gray, to 10 m tall and up to 20 cm in diameter, slightly swollen at the base, with ridged, "stair-step" rings of leaf scars.

Leaves: Leaf fonds 2.5-3 m long, with drooping individual segments 30-50cm long with threadlike points, green on both surfaces.

Crown shaft: Is up to 1 m long, somewhat swollen at the base, and varying in color from green to dull purplish-brown. Both upper and lower leaflet surfaces are green.

Flowers and fruits: The flower is about 1m long, spring flowers are pink to lilac and are followed by bright red, globular fruits 1-1.5cm long. Native birds are fond of the fruit.

Diagnostic Features in the Field: Tall, solitary palms with slender crown shafts and stems with "stair step" leaf scars and swollen bases. Leaves are green on both upper and lower surfaces. Multiple old and new inflorescences may remain on the stem and spiral around it.

May be confused with Alexandra Palm: Which is taller, has a more swollen base, and has a silvery rather than green undersurface on the leaflets. The flowers of A. alexandrae are greenish-white to cream-colored, while those of A. cunninghamiana are pink to lilac.

Distribution:  Native to Eastern Australia, often found in wet areas

Alexandra Palm (Archontophoenix alexandrea) http://itp.lucidcentral.org/id/palms/palm-id/Archontophoenix_alexandrae.htm   

Common Names: King Palm, Alexandra Palm, King Alexander PalmStems: Solitary, slender, gray, to 15 m tall and up to 25 cm in diameter, bulging at the base, with ridged, "stair-step" rings of leaf scars.

Leaves: 2-3 m long, that twists ½ way along.

Crownshaft: Is up to 1 m long, somewhat swollen at the base, and varying in color from light green to dull purple or reddish-brown.

Flowers and fruits: Flowers are less than 1 m long with many pendulous branches. Male and female flowers are greenish white to cream-color and are borne on the same inflorescence. The red, ovoid fruits are 1-1.5 cm long.

Diagnostic Features in the Field: Erect, solitary palm with "stair-step" rings and bulging base; slender crown shaft. Leaflets in a single plane, green above and silvery below. New leaves are sometimes bronze-colored when they emerge.

Distribution: Native to Eastern Australia, often in wet areas occurs as far south as Brisbane.