Phoenix identification

[azurebird]

I bought this palm very young and small from Rancho Soledad Nursery in Rancho Santa Fe about 28 years ago. At the time I was told it was a canariensis x reclinata. Over time I learned to hate it. It was a big fat amorphous blob of suckers and I thought I had received the worst of both worlds. We called it cousin it. The spikes are very lethal. I did a little bit of maintenance about 10 years ago but never really trimmed the beard. A friend started cleaning it up for me this week and behold, the ugly duckling is now a beautiful tree with nine stout branches. About 24' tall. I sent a picture this morning to a friend of mine who owns a palm nursery in Fallbrook, Bill Early. At least from these two pictures, he thinks that it looks more like a canariensis x roebelenii. He pointed out the lack of side shoots on the branches and certain defining frond characteristics. I sent a pic to Rancho Soledad and they said straight phoenix reclinata but I know that is not what was purportedly sold to me. It also seems more upright to me in posture than a pure reclinata.  Any thoughts from the experts out there as to what I actually have? Would really appreciate your input. Should be cleaned up in another couple days...

 

 

Edited August 2, 2019 by azurebird

[Steve Mac]

So you are thinking a canariensis x roebelenii multi planting .

If it is fact clumping and not multi planted you are most likely to have reclinata in there.

[azurebird]

I'm sorry, I meant Reclinata x roebelenii. 

Edited August 3, 2019 by azurebird

[Phoenikakias]

We need more detailed pictures of leaves, trunk and inflorescence. Check additionally mid rib on back side of the leaflets of the newest fronds. If you find tiny hooks along it, then roebelenii genes are surely involved.

Edited August 3, 2019 by Phoenikakias

[Cikas]

Looks like pure Phoenix reclinata. 

[palmsOrl]

Honestly,

This has been my feeling with every Phoenix palm I have ever grown (or tended to) myself, with the exception of Phoenix robellenii.  They are easy and carefree, but they just get bigger and bigger with all the spikes and then I look at it and think, I am in Orlando and can grow much nicer looking palms that are not loaded with thorns.

[Phoenikakias]

I grow such a hybrid in my garden, which is the result of a cross I did myself, so I am very sure of its ancestry.

Here are imo a couple of thumb rules for a correct identification. If you see black color on the oldest leaf bases and spines then it is a pure reclinata. If you see more closely arranged and radiating spines, which are yellowish, then it is a hybrid.

[azurebird]

Thank you for all for your help. I will take closeups and further analyze soon. By the way, the resolution on the site is abysmal. I think I posted at 1600 dpi and it is horrible. Maybe I can bump it up a tad but I don't remember it being this bad.