Acrocomia totai- dwarf form ???

[Eric in Orlando]

Here is a local Acrocomia totai, Grugru Palm. These seem to have 2 forms. One grows very fast from seed until it gets to about 15-20ft tall then slows down. The other stays small for many years before it grows and develops a trunk.

The one in the photo is around 15 years old. There used to be an old, 25 ft specimen where it is growing and it doed from Ganoderma. This is a seedling that sprouted and has remained around 6ft. tall.

[virtualpalm]

Eric, I have NEVER seen a slow-growing Acrocomia. I'm wondering if this volunteer might be expending a lot of energy "battling" the Ganoderma fungus?

Jody

[Eric in Orlando]

Does ganoderma infect juvenile palms? It always seems like palms killed by it are mature with trunks.

[blake_tx]

Ganoderma zombatum only affects mature palms, and the palm would usually die in 6-12 months. New leaves would show nutrient deficiency.

Edited July 3, 2012 by blake_tx

[Eric in Orlando]

We have a similar one at Leu Gardens. It was dug out of a local collectors yard around 10 years ago. It was about 5ft tall. Today it is around 7ft tall. It has a full crown of leaves and has shed leaf bases to reveal some trunk. It just doesn't grow vertically.

[Mark Heath]

There was one at UCF but it is now gone. I had seen it in the old abouretum but they unfortunatly destroyed it i guess.

I have one at my home that is slow growing as well. It is about the same size as the one pictured.

[Eric in Orlando]

I wonder if these are the hardier strain of A. totai? Like those found in the Dade City area.

[ErikSJI]

Is this a gru gru palm?

[ErikSJI]

Close up of the trunk.

[Eric in Orlando]

Yes it is !

[ErikSJI]

That one is located in Palmetto FL

[Eric in Orlando]

It looks to be a healthy specimen.

[Zeeth]

Is this a gru gru palm?

I used to live over by there. It's pretty young though, he planted it there from a small plant when his coconuts died in the two bad winters there so it's only 2 or so years old (and probably around 4 or 5 years old from seed)

[buffy]

We need more information about these cold hardy Acrocomia. Has anybody figured out if A. hasslerii is legitimate? Seed source?

[richnorm]

Isn't totai the cool growing form (now a species again) from South America? I don't think it grows naturally in Florida but could be wrong. I'm having mixed results but only have one plant.

[Eric in Orlando]

No species of Acrocomia is native to Florida. A. totai is native from Bolivia to southern Brazil and northern Argentina. There are some naturalized populations of A. totai in Florida.

[Kailua_Krish]

It seems a shame that the hardy form isn't very available.

-Krishna

[pindo]

Why you think it's Acrocomia totai?
I think in Acrocomia aculeata

[Phoenikakias]

Why you think it's Acrocomia totai?

I think in Acrocomia aculeata

Hola Pindo, how do you tell apart an aculeata from a totai?

[BS Man about Palms]

Had one that grew very well in a pot despite a lot of neglect. finally planted it and it grew fine for 6 months or so, then died.. never was sure what killed it off.

[edbrown_III]

There are piles of seeds here in jax just for the taking.

[Eric in Orlando]

On 7/2/2012, 3:30:38, Eric in Orlando said:

Here is a local Acrocomia totai, Grugru Palm. These seem to have 2 forms. One grows very fast from seed until it gets to about 15-20ft tall then slows down. The other stays small for many years before it grows and develops a trunk.

The one in the photo is around 15 years old. There used to be an old, 25 ft specimen where it is growing and it doed from Ganoderma. This is a seedling that sprouted and has remained around 6ft. tall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This palm was moved to Leu Gardens last week. It still hasn't grown very tall, it is about 7-8ft tall.

[Eric in Orlando]

[Eric in Orlando]

A spiny inflorescence...

 

 

[Josh-O]

very interesting indeed. Not much growth since the last pic's were posted.

Why did the palm get relocated?

[Eric in Orlando]

It is growing in a public park but near a road. I think the road is being rerouted and the Parks Dept. asked if we wanted it it. I said YESSSS and they dug it and transported it to us.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

There was a guy in Orlando that had Totai plants and seeds for sale but will never return calls or emails. I drove all around dade county looking for seeds last year but came up empty. Anyone know where can I get seed or plants? 

[smithgn]

I'd like to know where these Dade county Acrocomia Totai's are as well. I even contacted Phil Bergman to see if he had any for sale. He doesn't sell any A. Totai's but he confirmed there are some in Dade County, but never gave specific directions. Anyone in Florida know exactly where?

TexasColdHardyPalms- Here's one website I found- Although, it specifies that it's the Aculeata AND Totai. No telling what exactly this guy sells, as I can't tell the two apart.

 

https://mygardenofdelights.com/acrocomia-aculeata-gru-gru-grugru-palm.html

[Eric in Orlando]

Those hardy Acrocomia totai are in Dade CITY, (SW of Orlando and NE of Tampa). I've never been over there yet so don't know where they are growing.

Dade COUNTY is way down in SE FL, it is the county where Miami is located.

[smithgn]

Ah yes, duly noted. And yeah, what would have been so cold hardy about A. Totai's in Miami, Florida? Lol

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Correct, I misspoke.  Dade City is what I meant, NE of Tampa.

[buffy]

I'm still looking for some seeds to try.

[smithgn]

There are seeds for sale. I believe that rarepalmseeds.com has some for sale.

[Pal Meir]

47 minutes ago, smithgn said:

There are seeds for sale. I believe that rarepalmseeds.com has some for sale.

Not A. totai:

[smithgn]

29 minutes ago, Pal Meir said:

Not A. totai:

Thanks Pal Meir. If rarepalmseeds.com doesn't have them, then they're extremely rare!