Seeking Palm Identification

[Ryland]

A small palm that my mother has been looking after for about a dozen years is possibly destined for the ground at last, but she isn't sure it's an outdoor candidate for her Oregon, hardiness zone 8 garden.

It's been in this little pot for many years and has hardly seemed to grow at all.  Does anyone know what it is from these photos she has sent me?  It looks a bit like a Chamaerops to me, which would be good news.

[Kailua_Krish]

Agree with your id

[Frond-friend42]

Chaemerops humilis come in many shapes and colors. Looks like one of them to me too.

[PalmatierMeg]

Definitely is. Cute little thing.

[TheMadScientist]

In 2016, I decided to plant a couple of Med. Fans (C. Humilis) grown from seed 2010 in my small palm garden in the front yard.  As you can see, these were more FRAIL than the one you have posted.  4 years later in 2020, you can see how they fill out and even showing off the first seed.

[Ryland]

Thanks for the replies - that's encouraging.  We'll get it planted out!  @TheMadScientist that's impressive growth in just a few years

[harleyb]

This seems like the right thread for my question so here goes: I have been growing a batch of a few hundred Chaemerops Humilis var Cerifera from seeds ordered through RPS back in May. I gave them a 12 minute soak in concentrated sulphuric acid, then soaked them in tap water for 3 days, before sowing. They had a very high germination rate (90+ percent after a month).

All are growing happily, but there's one that looks quite different to the others as it seems to lack chlorophyll in its first leaf. Apart from the colour it has the same form as the other seedlings.

Is this some quirk of genetics, and if it has no chlorophyll will it survive? It would be very cool if I end up with an "albino" palm but I have never seen this before so don't know if it will growwell or not. So far it seems happy but it's probably still drawing nutrients from the seed.

Anyone know?

Thanks 😊

[Fusca]

21 minutes ago, harleyb said:

This seems like the right thread for my question so here goes: I have been growing a batch of a few hundred Chaemerops Humilis var Cerifera from seeds ordered through RPS back in May. I gave them a 12 minute soak in concentrated sulphuric acid, then soaked them in tap water for 3 days, before sowing. They had a very high germination rate (90+ percent after a month).

All are growing happily, but there's one that looks quite different to the others as it seems to lack chlorophyll in its first leaf. Apart from the colour it has the same form as the other seedlings.

Is this some quirk of genetics, and if it has no chlorophyll will it survive? It would be very cool if I end up with an "albino" palm but I have never seen this before so don't know if it will growwell or not. So far it seems happy but it's probably still drawing nutrients from the seed.

Anyone know?

Thanks 😊

Unfortunately your albino will only live for a while before it dies with no chlorophyll to produce food.  I haven't experienced this myself but I have seen a couple of posts here regarding this anomaly.  You're exactly right, once the seed is used up it's game over.

[harleyb]

59 minutes ago, Fusca said:

Unfortunately your albino will only live for a while before it dies with no chlorophyll to produce food.  I haven't experienced this myself but I have seen a couple of posts here regarding this anomaly.  You're exactly right, once the seed is used up it's game over.

Thanks, that's good to know. I've since found a few other discussions on the same thing. What a shame it won't survive much longer. Interesting to see, though.

[Fusca]

16 hours ago, harleyb said:

Thanks, that's good to know. I've since found a few other discussions on the same thing. What a shame it won't survive much longer. Interesting to see, though.

Yes, it's too bad that they can't grow like that - makes a unique look.

[SeanK]

Looking back to the original post, It looked like a Chamaerhops cerifera or Brahea. Nice lead-in to the later post. Can't say if the seedling in question is albino or variegated, but more knowledgeable people have rendered their prognoses. 

Best of luck with the endeavor.