As I mentioned earlier that we collected Nova from 2 sources in late 2008 and assumed that they might be the same without any reliable knowledge for reference, the initial results turned contrary to the previous presumption. One kind of Nova is the common style growing fast with regularly and narrowly leaflets and elongated trunk and petioles sharing the elegance of T.martianus.the other irregular and wide-leaved ones with similar growth rate but stiffer leaves.

Some people even pointed out the wide-leaved Nova were T.fortunei and now this assumption proves not correct.

1. regularly and narrowly-leaved Nova

This type were previous thought to be T.princeps years ago and so many current Nova fall into this group,but they turned out to be different from T.princeps with snow white powder to the undersides of the leaves and bluish upper leaf surface as the biggest difference is that they are growing pretty fast on slender trunks and elongated upright petioles with the elegance of T.martianus if in less windy area. Once they were called green princeps, the name which I think still is quite suitable for their similar features of regular and narrow leaflets they share with princeps.The seedlings of this category are the closest ones in appearance in the stone gate resembling T.princeps and you could say Nova of this kind are stretched T.princeps if the white powder is not considered.

2.Irregularly and wide-leaved Nova

This kind of Nova were also collected from the stone gate and we also could see few members grow such types .I guess the stouter version of Nova some people talked about could fall into this type because the adult palms are not that stretched as the first kind of Nova in term of petioles and trunk, bit of like T.fortunei but leaves stand more upright with enormous long ligules along almost half of the trunk, forming furry threads like bristles of a male lion.

The initial growing results show that the seedlings have irregular leaflets which are wider than those of the first kind of Nova and also T.princeps,but narrower than those of T.fortunei. They may be seen a a transitional type between T.fortunei and T.princeps.Also as Nova, they display unparalleled growth rate T.fortunei can not match.but the leaves are stiffer ,and seemingly more wind tolerant due to the wider and stiffer leaves.

So this phenomenon indicates that Nova could be the hybrids between T.princeps and T.fortunei. The first kind of Nova are identical to T.princeps in regular and narrow leaflets whereas the second are more like T.fortunei in irregular and wide leaflets.Both are growing fast but the first have softer leaves and more elongated trunk and petioles,the second nova stiffer ones and compacter looks.

Late last year we did not collect the first version of Nova and so all the members which I shared Nova seeds earlier this year are of the second kind of Nova,namely with wide and irregular leaflets.

Here are some more comparisons drawn with Tesan and T.princeps.

Note the leaf forms ,trunk and petiole.

For more photos, check http://www.flickr.com/photos/18211312@N04/

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Here is a link that might be useful: Some more photos of Nova ,princeps,etc.