Until 2002, three different species belonged to the genus Sommieria, but were then combined into a single species, Sommieria leucophylla. This is a variable, small-growing palm that grows in the undergrowth of humid lowland rainforests in northern Papua New Guinea. Its solitary trunk, around 3 cm in diameter, grows underground but can also protrude slightly from the ground. The crown consists of numerous deeply divided leaves. Its surface is dark green, its underside silvery-white to golden. It is closely related to the Pelagodoxa, which can also be seen in the similar, peculiar, warty fruits, which are smaller, however. To this day, it is still rarely cultivated. It grows very slowly and requires a sheltered location with plenty of moisture. It grows up to a total height of around 2 m.
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