Elaeis guineensis Bifid Leaf, Cape Coral, FL

[PalmatierMeg]

I took New Years Day photos of my back yard world's smallest jungle and will post them over several topics. First up, at the request of @tjwalters (glad to hear from you again) I did my best to photograph my mutant African oil palm that has bifid leaves instead of pinnate. I got it in trade from Tom as a 2g some years back because he knew it would outgrow his conservatory and die when exposed to MD cold. I received it at an opportune time. All my 7 large queen palms that shielded my tropical jungle had died of wilt and the sun was fixing to fry many of my palms. It took a couple years and the loss of one of my two H. forsteriana but my mutant oil now extends its canopy over much of the east side jungle. And it has stayed bifid to this day. I have noticed my bifid oil is much more petite (can an oil palm be called "petite"?) than my two pinnate oils. And that's a good thing as my jungle is crowded as any self-respecting jungle should be. Only problem is I have trouble getting photos of the entire palm but I do my best.

Elaeis guineensis, Bifid leaf form, Cape Coral, FL 2021

[tjwalters]

Thanks, @PalmatierMeg.  Glad to see it is doing well and found a good home.  Did you see the spindle I posted?  I tagged you.  It (there are two) was grown from seed you set several years go.

[PalmatierMeg]

11 minutes ago, tjwalters said:

Thanks, @PalmatierMeg.  Glad to see it is doing well and found a good home.  Did you see the spindle I posted?  I tagged you.  It (there are two) was grown from seed you set several years go.

Yes. I've never seen a store-bought spindle look as good as that.