Coccothrinax barbadensis
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Coccothrinax barbadensis habit (MBC photo: 96167C-GD04). Photograph courtesy of Montgomery Botanical Center http://www.montgomerybotanical.org/ |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis habit of young palm (MBC photo: 96167C).Photograph courtesy of Montgomery Botanical Center http://www.montgomerybotanical.org/ |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis unsplit petioles |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis burlap-like fibers |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis close view of leaf sheath fibers |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis leaf upper surface with hastula |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis close view of hastula |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis leaf blade silvery undersurface |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis new leaf expanding with view of "shoulder" |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis leaflet underside with transverse veinlets (with mm scale) |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis with inflorescence. Photograph courtesy of Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Guide to Palms http://palmguide.org/index.php |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis fruit (Starr Image 090806-4044). Photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr, starrimages@hear.org |
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Coccothrinax barbadensis seeds (MBC photo: 20070283-1). Photograph courtesy of Montgomery Botanical Center http://www.montgomerybotanical.org/ |
Common name
silver palm, latanier, Lesser Antilles silver thatch palm
Description
Stems: Solitary, erect stems, to 15 m tall (usually shorter in cultivation), up to 18 cm in diameter, with faint rings from leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
scars. The upper reaches of older palm stems are covered with burlap-like woven fibers from old leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
bases, as are stems of young palms. Leaves: Palmatepalmate:
like the palm of a hand; fan palms have palmate leaves that are usually divided into leaf segments arising from a central point, although a fan palm may have entire leaves (e.g., <em>Licuala grandis</em>)
, induplicateinduplicate:
Most palm leaflets or leaf segments are obviously folded. If the folds create a V-shape, with the midrib lower than the margins (so that rain might fall "into a valley"), the folding is induplicate.
, with blade (about 1.5 m across) divided up to two-thirds its length by numerous, narrow segments that droop at the tips. Leaflets become narrower toward the tip, with an abrupt transition zone called the "shoulder." The upper leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
surface is bright green with a yellow halo surrounding the raised, triangular hastulahastula:
a flange or collar-like flap of tissue extending from the petiole where a palmate leaf blade joins it; often seen on the upper (adaxial) surface, but may also be found on the lower (abaxial) surface in some palms
; the undersurface, silver-gray; leaftips, bifidbifid:
deeply cleft into two usually equal parts or two-lobed from the apex; for example, palms with bifid leaves or leaflet tips (e.g., <em>Chamaedorea metallica</em> has bifid leaves)
; transverse veinlets are obvious. The fibrous leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
sheath has two layers, and the unarmed petiole is not split at the base. Flowers and fruits: Inflorescence inflorescence:
the reproductive structure of a flowering plant, including palms, consisting of flowers and associated bracts
is shorter than the leaves, to 1.5 m long, branched to two orders with up to 10 primary branches. The yellow flowers have both male and female parts. The fruits are spherical (6-12 mm in diameter) and purplish-black when ripe.
Diagnostic features
Field: Erect fan palms found on limestone soils, coastal maritime forests or scrubby woodlands; leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
sheath with finely woven fibers; unarmed margins on petiole that does not split at the base.
Lab: Silvery scales on the underside of the leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
blade and visible transverse veinlets.
May be confused with
Thrinax species, but the petioles of Thrinax palms split at the base while those of Coccothrinax do not.
Distribution
Native to Venezuela and Caribbean islands
Additional comments
Cultivated in Hawaii
Scientific name
Coccothrinax barbadensis (Lodd. ex Mart.) Becc.
Family
Arecaceae/Palmae
Synonyms
Coccothrinax australis L.H.Bailey
Coccothrinax boxii L.H.Bailey
Coccothrinax discreta L.H.Bailey
Coccothrinax dussiana L.H.Bailey
Coccothrinax laxa (O.F.Cook) Becc.
Coccothrinax martinicaensis Becc.
Coccothrinax sabana L.H.Bailey
Copernicia barbadensis (Lodd. ex Mart.) H.Wendl.
Thrinax barbadensis Lodd. ex Mart.
