Port Isabel/SPI Cocos nucifera Pt. II - is this a Fiji or Samoan growing on SPI

[lahuasteca]

Good morning everyone,

Instead of hijacking pre-existing threads, including one of my own, decided to start a new thread.  While driving to work this morning, I noticed a fairly large coconut on E. Houston St., Port Isabel, Texas.  It is growing on the south side of an apartment building, adjacent to the Laguna Madre, and protected from the winter north winds.  It appears to be fairly neglected with no special care.  Given the height, I'm guessing it predates the winters of 2010 and 2011 which was our last significant long term cold weather.  I'm also guessing it's a Mexican tall, instead of one of the Malayan dwarfs.  Latitude 26⁰ 4' N.

Part II - I was at SPI this afternoon as a tropical wave (onda tropical) rolled in.  I was hoping to get some images of dramatic skies over the wetlands.  On Campeche Street, Bayside, I notices what appears to be a Fiji or Samoan variety of Cocos nucifera - notice the thick base and the curved trunk.  I'm really new to this so someone with some expertise please chime in.  FWIW, 1st shot is straight out of camera, 2nd shot is HDR to bringout the clouds.

GENE

[Cluster]

Hello there!

If I was going to guess I would say no. The fronds look a bit too long and maybe not as stiff, they should be the opposite, short and stiff. It is hard to see the internodal distance as well, but in order for it to be a Fiji Dwarf it should have short internodal distance as well. The Fiji dwarf is also known to have broad leaflets that are very tight, blocking a lot of light. It is a very compact variety, they look like coconut tanks sometimes

Keith from palmtalk posted a picture of one:

Edited October 4, 2017 by Cluster

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

Gene,

When I saw that one on the island down there a couple of months ago, I thought it was a very robust juvenile Mexican Tall.  It would be a good idea to get to know the homeowner and try to get some viable seed nuts off it when it starts producing.

John

[Zeeth]

Nice coconut. Looks like a juvenile tall-type to me. 

[Austinpalm]

It has grown some.  Here it is in 2011.

https://www.google.com/maps/@26.1080111,-97.1710251,3a,30.2y,33.73h,74.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1soaGPAXM5wbY73sNzES89UQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[lahuasteca]

I think 2011 was one of those bad winters.  Looks like it survived that and took off!  Another bad one was a prolonged cold spell in Jan. either 2013 or 2014.