unknown BUTIA sp.

[Al in Kona]

Ideas anyone as to what this quite small BUTIA might be, or maybe even a hybrid?  I purchased this as a 2-strap-leaf seedling marked 'Butia archeri'.  However, since the petioles are slightly armored, I'm told it is not a B. archeri.  Possibly a B. catarinensis?  What are your thoughts, all ideas or comments appreciated.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

This one looks just like the ones that I saw at Fairchild.  If I remember correctly there were 5 of them planted throughout a different areas of the garden.  There were only two mature, viable seeds on all five plants and they resembled Butia Matagrossensis more than any other species. I have attached the picture of the two seeds beside a variety of butia seed that I have.  All butia seed besides the odorata was sourced through RPS.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

And yes, I know my hand writing is awful.

[Al in Kona]

Thanks Joseph.  Did you get your B. llalemantii or B. archeri to germinate for you?  I have seen B. archeri in habitat in Brazil but I understand there are several slightly different forms of it too.  I especially would like to get as many of the dwarf types as possible but presently most are not available and aren't most Butias a bit difficult to germinate?  What's your experience been?

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

7 minutes ago, Al in Kona said:

Thanks Joseph.  Did you get your B. llalemantii or B. archeri to germinate for you?  I have seen B. archeri in habitat in Brazil but I understand there are several slightly different forms of it too.  I especially would like to get as many of the dwarf types as possible but presently most are not available and aren't most Butias a bit difficult to germinate?  What's your experience been?

The germination rate sucks.  I have no problems with odorata, yatay, eriospatha, mule seeds, jubaea, you name it I can germinate it at a good rate except these dwarf butia. I have a hard time believing they are as fresh as advertised.  I will test my theory out with the two seeds that I know are fresh.

[foxtail]

33 minutes ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

And yes, I know my hand writing is awful.

Lol

[Mandrew968]

Just from what I have seen presented on Butia by Dr. Noblick (I consider him the primary expert on Butia and many other cocosoid palms), it's very hard to identify a Butia if it is not mature. What I mean is these palms can morphologically change over their lifetime. What they change into as mature adult palms is easier to identify but still not easy. Thanks for sharing the pretty palm.

Flowering palms and adult palms are two different things, in this instance.