‘Flaking Paint’ Palm ( $120 )

6. This is the trunk of a magnificent palm from Madagascar - Bismarckia Nobilis . I found the various textures fascinating. The “flaking paint” is actually a waxy coating secreted by the plant which can be seen fresh at the top of the image. There is a lot of research into why plants produce these coatings. Some waxy coatings are certainly to protect the plant from damage due to excess light. They may also reduce the amount of water loss from the plant and deter predators.