Brahea 'Super Silver' in habitad

[Takil-Explorer]

Here a pictures of Brahea 'Super Silver in its natural habitad near Zapotitlan in Puebla State, Mexico.

[Takil-Explorer]

More Brahea 'Super Silver'. Pictures are from April 26, 2003 and I took them with an old fashioned manual camera.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

Another one.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

And one more.

Alexander

[Stevetoad]

Very cool. Seeing them in that terrain makes me think I'm babying mine to much.

[Sutter Bob]

Perfect timing for this post.

I just planted 10 seeds earlier today.

Thanks for the great pictures.

[Takil-Explorer]

Well its a pleasure to me. Are there other people here whom have seen it in habitad? And have pictures.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

You can see more pictures on the European Palm Society forum.

Alexander

[Kumar]

Great Photos Alexander, your explorations take you to some diverse places!

[Patricia-CR]

Thanks for sharing such beauts in their habitat!!

[Takil-Explorer]

Thanks!

Alexander

[Al in Kona]

Thanks for those photos Alexander of what just might be Brahea 'Super Silver' or if not, it must then be very closely allied to it, I'd think. You said these were found in habitat near Zapotitlan, Puebla, Mexico. It would be interesting to know if this is the same general area where Toby first found Brahea 'Super Silver' or is its habitat scattered by some distance to other areas? And if this is so, there then could be some genetic variability complicating matters a bit. Regardless, it is a very nice and interesting blue palm differing from B. armata, as I see it, by its unarmed petioles, thinner trunk and its inflorescences (very different from B. armata and a bit more like B. nitida) extending well beyond the leaves but not as extreme as in B. armata. What more could we add here to clarify the uniqueness of this palm?

I'm happy to have a small B. 'Super Silver' growing well here in our garden.

[pindo]

WOOOWWWW !!!!!

Thanks Alexander ...and where are the Cowboys and the Indians?...

[Takil-Explorer]

WOOOWWWW !!!!!

Thanks Alexander ...and where are the Cowboys and the Indians?...

Well no cowboys in that area. You have to go farther north for them across the border...

But in Zapotitlan you have the local Popoploca people. And some precolumbian remains of the local culture. And in the mountain you still find Nahuatl speaking people.

Here a picture of a local, probably Nahuatl speaking woman selling the flowers of Magnolia dealbata on the marked of Tehuacan. Well I spend a couple of days there with a Nahutal and Spanish speking local whom showed me arround.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

P.S.

Magnolia dealbata is closely related to Magnolia macrophylla from the Eastern U.S.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

Back to the Brahea 'Super Silver', or whatever it is. Here a picture of one in the botanical gardens of Oaxacaca behind the cathedral. I saw it from the bus also in that state on the way to Tehuacan, that dessert area covers both Puebla State and Oaxacaca State. It was there growing together with Brahea dulcis. But the B' Super Silver' has a much more blue silver colour!

At the back one Brahea Super Silver, the same as I found above Zapotitlan las Salinas. Well I can not see any differences.

Also some Agave guignola in front.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

Thanks for those photos Alexander of what just might be Brahea 'Super Silver' or if not, it must then be very closely allied to it, I'd think. You said these were found in habitat near Zapotitlan, Puebla, Mexico. It would be interesting to know if this is the same general area where Toby first found Brahea 'Super Silver' or is its habitat scattered by some distance to other areas? And if this is so, there then could be some genetic variability complicating matters a bit. Regardless, it is a very nice and interesting blue palm differing from B. armata, as I see it, by its unarmed petioles, thinner trunk and its inflorescences (very different from B. armata and a bit more like B. nitida) extending well beyond the leaves but not as extreme as in B. armata. What more could we add here to clarify the uniqueness of this palm?

I'm happy to have a small B. 'Super Silver' growing well here in our garden.

Where did Tobias Spanner find it by the way? Any placename, or state? I have seen pictures of it on rarepalmseeds.com But the exact location is not mentioned. I guess this B. 'Super Blue' is something differend from Brahea clara or B. nitida. Well for people living in Arizona or California this should be easier to say as those palms are grown in gardens there.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

Another picture of Brahea 'Super Silver' with Brahea dulcis in the back on that limestone mountain, just north of Zapotitlan las Salinas.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

The Brahea dulcis reminded me a bit to our European Chamaerops humillis. Also multitrunking in contrast with the silver Brahea 'Super Silver' wich only made one trunk!

Alexander

[Al in Kona]

Thanks for those photos Alexander of what just might be Brahea 'Super Silver' or if not, it must then be very closely allied to it, I'd think. You said these were found in habitat near Zapotitlan, Puebla, Mexico. It would be interesting to know if this is the same general area where Toby first found Brahea 'Super Silver' or is its habitat scattered by some distance to other areas? And if this is so, there then could be some genetic variability complicating matters a bit. Regardless, it is a very nice and interesting blue palm differing from B. armata, as I see it, by its unarmed petioles, thinner trunk and its inflorescences (very different from B. armata and a bit more like B. nitida) extending well beyond the leaves but not as extreme as in B. armata. What more could we add here to clarify the uniqueness of this palm?

I'm happy to have a small B. 'Super Silver' growing well here in our garden.

Where did Tobias Spanner find it by the way? Any placename, or state? I have seen pictures of it on rarepalmseeds.com But the exact location is not mentioned. I guess this B. 'Super Blue' is something differend from Brahea clara or B. nitida. Well for people living in Arizona or California this should be easier to say as those palms are grown in gardens there.

Alexander

It would be interesting to see more photos of all the known Braheas but that would best be done in a whole new thread. However, even just seeing pics of the Braheas which seem more closely allied to Brahea 'Super Silver' (for comparison) such as B. nitida, etc. would be nice. Anyone have pics to share?

Al in Kona

[Takil-Explorer]

Well the Brahea Super Silver on the rarepalmseeds website is coming from Central Mexico, growing together with Brahea dulcis, in an arrid area. And the 3 pictures show an identical palm, well 2 of them, and one with a Brahea dulcis. Well I guess what I saw was Brahea Super Silver. And if its not what is it then???

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

Here the rarepalmseeds picture

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/images/BraSil4.jpg

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/images/BraSil2.jpg

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/images/BraSil.jpg

Alexander

[Fran]

Hello, I have seen this palm 3 years ago, as I live a couple of hours where it grows, it is really beautiful, yesterday I went there and got 1 kg of seeds, any suggestions about its germination?? thanks

Look this amazing group of this Brahea

Edited February 7, 2012 by Fran

[bahia]

Francisco, that photo of all those Brahea palms is simply fantastic. Could I trouble you to say where the photo was taken? A site I would greatly like to visit one day to see in person. Gracias por tener muestrado esse foto!

[tank]

Nice pic.

Probably would be good to get the fruit off the seed. I had no trouble germinating these in community pots with a free draining soil mix. Should be very easy with fresh seeds.

[Firepalm]

Hello, I have seen this palm 3 years ago, as I live a couple of hours where it grows, it is really beautiful, yesterday I went there and got 1 kg of seeds, any suggestions about its germination?? thanks

Look this amazing group of this Brahea

That photo really is amazing. Thanks for sharing! Hope mine looks like that someday.

[DoomsDave]

Thanks for those photos Alexander of what just might be Brahea 'Super Silver' or if not, it must then be very closely allied to it, I'd think. You said these were found in habitat near Zapotitlan, Puebla, Mexico. It would be interesting to know if this is the same general area where Toby first found Brahea 'Super Silver' or is its habitat scattered by some distance to other areas? And if this is so, there then could be some genetic variability complicating matters a bit. Regardless, it is a very nice and interesting blue palm differing from B. armata, as I see it, by its unarmed petioles, thinner trunk and its inflorescences (very different from B. armata and a bit more like B. nitida) extending well beyond the leaves but not as extreme as in B. armata. What more could we add here to clarify the uniqueness of this palm?

I'm happy to have a small B. 'Super Silver' growing well here in our garden.

Does yours look silver? (I'm assuming super . . . ) I've got three or four young plants and they're just green.

[Sutter Bob]

Hello, I have seen this palm 3 years ago, as I live a couple of hours where it grows, it is really beautiful, yesterday I went there and got 1 kg of seeds, any suggestions about its germination?? thanks

Look this amazing group of this Brahea

Great photo. Awesome sight.

Thanks.

[Cedric]

Hmm hmm nice pictures of palms in habitat, thanks.

[Kris]

Beautiful visuals....Thanks !

Love,

kris.

[Stevetoad]

When do these guys go silver? Mine are just super greeners

[Fran]

Francisco, that photo of all those Brahea palms is simply fantastic. Could I trouble you to say where the photo was taken? A site I would greatly like to visit one day to see in person. Gracias por tener muestrado esse foto!

Well it was taken near Zapotitlan, there are many hills and in some of them these palms are growing, they look beautiful.

[Takil-Explorer]

In the mountains above Zapotitlan Salinas I did see it. Well there is a botanical garden there, ask the people there where yopu can see it.I went with a chap from that garden into the mountains. Well its a botanical paradise upthere!

But the Brahea Super Silver can also bee seen from the roads from Oaxaca to Puebla state. You come across a dessert area where you get lots of interesting plants. Well its that same dessert area as where Zapotilan Salinas lays.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

By the way, whats the official name of Brahea 'Super Silver'? It must have an official name by now.

Alexander

[JasonD]

When do these guys go silver? Mine are just super greeners

We've had a crop for about three or four years and about 20% are starting to get silver on the newest leaves. It's kind of like decumbens in that way, starting green and changing to silver as it develops.

[Fran]

You were right the seeds are easy to germinate and are growing well

rgds

[dalmatiansoap]

What I have as Brahea Super Silver is everything but silver .

[Explorer]

My 4 Brahea Super Silver are still green. I have grown them from seeds I did collect 10 years ago in Mexico. But mine are in pot and also the fact that I grow them at 52 degrees latitude north could be a reason for the absence of any blue collor. But in warmer sunnier parts of the World like California or Southern Europe it would take less long.

Alexander

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

My 4 Brahea Super Silver are still green. I have grown them from seeds I did collect 10 years ago in Mexico. But mine are in pot and also the fact that I grow them at 52 degrees latitude north could be a reason for the absence of any blue collor. But in warmer sunnier parts of the World like California or Southern Europe it would take less long.

Alexander

They start out green and turn to silver with more maturity. From what I can tell it seems to be an adaptation to emergent canopy - they are green when small to grow fast in lower light and turn silver when more mature and more exposed to the elements. They might stay greener longer in more shadier exposure, but that's not been my experience here at 36N.

[Alicehunter2000]

P.S.

Magnolia dealbata is closely related to Magnolia macrophylla from the Eastern U.S.

Alexander

Excellent.........didn't know about this Magnolia....need to add one to the yard, despite the ginormous leaf litter. Maybe guerrilla plant on the other side of the fence.