Is this Butia purpurascens?

[PalmatierMeg]

I bought the Butia in the photos below from a palm seller in So Cal who has since gone out of business. It was listed as the very rare Butia purpurascens, a palm I hadn't seen before and haven't seen since. I've been very happy with it as it is a lovely minty blue-green and much more delicate looking than other Butias I have seen. Its leaves arch almost full circle while leaflets form deep Vs. I planted it in mostly sand at the edge of our garden lot where it has grown slowly but effortlessly under harsh FL conditions.

The description of this species in the Riffle, Craft book indicates B. purpurascens has unarmed petioles. And up until the past couple years, my little Butia was indeed unarmed. But as it grew larger its petioles developed hooked spines covered with fibers. Now I'm not sure what Butia I have. Can any Butia lovers give me an idea if it really is B. purpurascens - or something else? I love and will keep it no matter what it is.

[RJ]

Meg, it's a looker regardless what type of butia it is. It has a "Yatayish" look to it, but at the same time it looks a bit stocky to be a yatay. I'm certainly no expert perhaps @Alberto can chime in as I think he has this species of butia. 

 

 

[branislav]

Looks like a Butia yatay to me.

[Steve in Florida]

Meg, what size was it when you received it and how many years have you had it?  It could be Butia paraguayensis, which resembles a dwarf version of Butia yatay and develops armament later in life.

[Josue Diaz]

i remember reading that purpurescens lacks spines on the petiole. Can anyone confirm or refute that?

[Brad Mondel]

Probably won't be able to confirm until it flowers. 

[Phoenikakias]

Butia catarinensis!

[Phoenikakias]

Yous reminds a lot a specimen of mine but the purple color on petioles and leaf bases. Alberto has identified it as catarinensis. Purple hues vary a lot among individuals even of the same sp.

[PalmatierMeg]

On 10/29/2019 at 2:18 AM, Josue Diaz said:

i remember reading that purpurescens lacks spines on the petiole. Can anyone confirm or refute that?

The Riffle, Craft book indicates purpurescens lacks spines. Mine, received as a 1g 4-5 years ago lacked spines until recently. That's what raised the ID issue for me.

[Steve in Florida]

Nigel Kembrey has stated that pure Butia catarinensis does not have purple/red petioles in the wild.  I have ones with purple/red petiole color due to the genetic influence of Butia eriospatha.  This can also occur from influence of Butia odorata.

[Phoenikakias]

11 hours ago, Steve in Florida said:

Nigel Kembrey has stated that pure Butia catarinensis does not have purple/red petioles in the wild.  I have ones with purple/red petiole color due to the genetic influence of Butia eriospatha.  This can also occur from influence of Butia odorata.

Butia eriospatha is a massive specimen, perhaps of the largest in the genus. I suppose that by  genetic mixing this should reflect on the size of the hybrid. How about your hybrids, perhaps a picture?

[Steve in Florida]

17 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

Butia eriospatha is a massive specimen, perhaps of the largest in the genus. I suppose that by  genetic mixing this should reflect on the size of the hybrid. How about your hybrids, perhaps a picture?

I didn't keep any of the hybrids.  Some of them were perhaps 20% larger than their pure Butia catarinensis siblings.

[Alberto]

On 10/28/2019 at 10:10 PM, RJ said:

Meg, it's a looker regardless what type of butia it is. It has a "Yatayish" look to it, but at the same time it looks a bit stocky to be a yatay. I'm certainly no expert perhaps @Alberto can chime in as I think he has this species of butia. 

 

 

I see relatively big spines on the petiole of this palm, something B. purpurascens lacks. It looks somewhat like a Butia catarinensis, but in this case it should show some spathes because this species flowers at young age.