Beccariophoenix alfredii or madagascariensis? Hurricane Ian Survivor

[PalmatierMeg]

In our back yard we had one Beccariophoenix alfredii and one Beccariophoenix madagascariensis planted in close proximity. Big mistake, I know, now rectified by Hurricane Ian. Only one of them survived. Little else in the back yard also made it and the landscape is so changed I am not sure which species can claim survivor status. I already know from Ian, as well as Irma in 2017, that pre-trunking alfredii don't deal well with major tropical storms - the stems tends to tear away from their growing plates, i.e., instant death. And the non-surviving Beccario did just that. From the photos below can anyone tell what Beccariophoenix I have left? It's the last of its genus I have and likely to stay that way.

So, is this palm Beccariophoenix alfredii or is it madacariensis?

[Brad52]

Dunno if it helps Meg, but here is a slightly smaller Madagascariensis...

[Billy]

A little hard to tell with so few fronds but based on the way they're arching make me think it's Alfredii.

[GottmitAlex]

That's a tough one. 

It looks more like an alfredii than it does a mad.  

 

[GottmitAlex]

The reason I said that is because I saw a tad bit of purplish color on the base of one of the stems. 

That's indicative of B. alfredii.

That said, the picture quality is a bit lacking. 

[Billy]

I agree. Reminiscent of a ripe passion fruit. Another indicator are the arching fronds as opposed to B.Mad's crown being held in an upright manner. 

[Tommy83]

I would say alfredii

[tim_brissy_13]

Yep, agree with all above. Very confident that’s a B alfredii. 

[sonoranfans]

Purple stems are not definitive of alfredii, I have 3, no purple.  Also hurricane Ian made my alfredii leaves lower significantly closer to the horizontal, opened up the crowns lot.  At 130-150 mph its a wonder any palms have survived.  The wind direction and other palms in front of a palm can make or break its survival.  I have  southern magnolia tree on the windward side but close to a sabal mauritiiformis which has a reputation for not tolerating wind and yet that sabal looks barely touched by Ian.  I am pretty sure that if that magnolia wasn't there the mauritiiformis would have many shredded leaves but it was hardly touched.  At 130mph to 150 mph that magnolia would probably fall on top the sabal though.  My alfredii's have all opened new spears since Ian, not sure its a response.  They fared better than my 25'+ livistona decora which had the new spear bundle snapped, its beheaded and not growing yet.  My smaller palms in the forest of larger ones had little damage as well, not noticeable.  Im sure if they were out in the open in the wind like my largest alfredii they would be seriously damaged.  That palm has a thin trunk for an alfredii, none of mine ever looked like that.  My largest al;fredii has a 12" clear trunk base at between 30-36" diameter, thicker than anything in my yard except sabal causiarum.  I understand why this is that last of the genus in your yard meg, my alfredii would probably be leafless trunks at that velocity. 

[PalmatierMeg]

I'll let it grow a bit then take better photos. The dang sun is so strong and harsh after Ian wiped out my canopy palms.