Chamaerops Humilis "volcano form" variability

[palmtreesforpleasure]

I was asked to take pictures of Chamaerops Humilis "volcano form" in teh Wollongong botanic gardens for Neil from Brisbane.

Trying to get small compact versions can be a real challenge, not all seed of volcano form are compact. It takes many years of germination and individual selection.

see by the pictures below

All plants came from the same seed batch.

All growing in the same conditions.

regards

Colin

 

[UK_Palms]

Great pictures. From my understanding, there are 4 different, distinct phenotypes present from the 'Vulcano' seed batch. So yes, there is lots of variation present. I started a number of Vulcano seeds that I obtained from Italy and noted lots of variation, however I sold 20 out of 23 small specimens to make room for other seedlings and projects. 

From what I noticed...

Phenotype 1 - rather similar to regular Chamaerops Humilis (visible in the 3rd picture?)

Phenotype 2 - typical 'Vulcano' form which is marketed under it's namesake

Phenotype 3 - a shorter more compact version of 'Vulcano', which is often listed as 'Compacta', but also sold as regular 'Vulcano' sometimes (visible in 2nd picture?)

Phenotype 4 - pale in colour with more deeply divided fronds than regular Vulcano, which is often listed as 'Etna Star' (possibly in 1st picture, also the best looking type in my opinion). 

Of course you then get specimens that are a mix of those 4 main types and somewhere in between two different phenotypes, which again is a testament to the variation of this type. I'm just going by my own observations and from what I have heard from other people. There could be more, or less, variation than I am stating.

If you bred, or obtained true Vulcano form x true Vulcano form seeds, the resulting stock will probably mostly be true to form for Vulcano. Or at least I think that would be the case. I think the Italian nursery that produces the vast majority of 'vulcano' has refined the seed stock in recent years to get true to form looking offspring. Likewise with their 'Etna Star' type. They might have another named type as well, if I'm not mistaken, although it could just be a different name for the 'Compacta' version. 

[palmtreesforpleasure]

The Chamaerops humilis volcan at home

The first one flowered at 35cm , it is now 40cm.

last picture is of 3 small compact ones

regards

Colin

[Neil C]

Nice Chamaerops Colin. The forth photo down from the ones at your house has the nicest form. Silver back, short petioles, blunt leaf tips (all the typical vulcano traits). Where did your original seed come from? Did you get some seed from the ones you saw in the wild? Do you have any photos of these wild Italian ones? One day I'd love to grow one like you see in the photo below. To me this is almost perfection.

Regards Neil

[buffy]

Vulcano is awesome. M@ximas sent me one from Italy over 10 years ago. It's cranking along great. Forever thankful for that gesture from Max. 

[UK_Palms]

@Neil C I have never seen a 'Vulcano' type like that. Not that silver looking. It looks more like Cerifera, but with Vulcano shaped fronds. Could it be a Cerifera x Vulcano hybrid possibly? Very interesting and an excellent find!

[palm789]

Mine were labelled as compacta yet leaves look different,what you think.

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Hello UK palms

Next time and when we  can travel again to the UK  might see if i can  visit you at Guilford. Chamaerops Humilis, Volcano compacta form seems to come in many forms, Saw them flowering with seed in silver at 30cm height in Sicily in both Green and Silver.

The smaller forms i have been chasing, taken 200 seed and 15 years of growing to select the compacta form.

Will no separate teh Volcano form and plant them at teh WBG

Saw them a bit larger  at IPS director Paco's place in Valencia in Silver 60cm to 1'3m, They all kept there compact leaf form.

 

'The Etna Sta form mentioned by UK palms has yellow colouring around the stem. Have separated them and will plant them at Wollongong botanic gardens as group.

Thank you for the clarifications

regards

Colin

[Phoenikakias]

Bump! I have three different forms of vulcano. Well at least two, for the third still pending a final decision. Common of the two first are the small sized leaf blades, the third one having bigger blades, but all three have short petioles. One has very stiff blades, the other quite unarmed petioles. And the third ambiguous one is intensely silverback!

 

 

[Coasta]

Great information!!! Some of these photos look a lot like my Chamerops humilis. 

Any thoughts on if it could be the volcano version? 

[Cikas]

  On 4/15/2020 at 12:33 PM, UK_Palms said:

@Neil C I have never seen a 'Vulcano' type like that. Not that silver looking. It looks more like Cerifera, but with Vulcano shaped fronds. Could it be a Cerifera x Vulcano hybrid possibly? Very interesting and an excellent find!

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Looks like normal "Vulcano" to me. All of them are silver on one side of the leaves.