Phoenix pusilla (or hybrid)

[Eric in Orlando]

I've been watching this odd Phoenix since about 1980. It's located near my mom's house just west of downtown Orlando. It's growing at a house (built in 1942) that is now used as an office. I think it is Phoenix pusilla or a hybrid with P. pusilla. Until about 15 years ago it had just a short, fat trunk and no suckers. It was always the same size. About 15 years ago it started growing and suckering. It never was damaged in the 3 big freezes of the 1980's.

 

[Eric in Orlando]

There used to be a nice, slender Phoenix hybrid (probably dactylifera x sylvestris) that died a few years ago. This is the oldest streetview for this location, May 2008.

 

 

[Eric in Orlando]

Another old house across the street, built in 1940 and now used as an office, had 2 of these slender Phoenix hybrids. One is still alive.

 

 

[SeanK]

42 minutes ago, Eric in Orlando said:

I've been watching this odd Phoenix since about 1980. It's located near my mom's house just west of downtown Orlando. It's growing at a house (built in 1942) that is now used as an office. I think it is Phoenix pusilla or a hybrid with P. pusilla. Until about 15 years ago it had just a short, fat trunk and no suckers. It was always the same size. About 15 years ago it started growing and suckering. It never was damaged in the 3 big freezes of the 1980's.

 

x Reclinata?

Although I don't know how cold hardy that would be. Me thinks it looks better as a single owing to the trunk diameter.

[Phoenikakias]

7 hours ago, Eric in Orlando said:

I've been watching this odd Phoenix since about 1980. It's located near my mom's house just west of downtown Orlando. It's growing at a house (built in 1942) that is now used as an office. I think it is Phoenix pusilla or a hybrid with P. pusilla. Until about 15 years ago it had just a short, fat trunk and no suckers. It was always the same size. About 15 years ago it started growing and suckering. It never was damaged in the 3 big freezes of the 1980's.

 

I obtained once seeds (and fruits) from Thailand and I can say with certainty, that pusilla fruits are red just like those of rupicola.  In the pictures it is clear that fruits will ripen to deep orange and then brown-black.  I throw just a crazy idea, why should this plant be a pusilla hybrid and not just a pure form of loureiroi? If leaves are not longer than 2 m, then this poasibility must be considered seriously.  Pseudopetioles and acanthophylls speak for loureiroi. Also the delayed suckering habit combined with female gender of the plant speak for loureiroi too! (yes in a wild loureiroi population all caespitose individuals were female)

Edited July 5, 2023 by Phoenikakias

[awkonradi]

12 hours ago, SeanK said:

x Reclinata?

Although I don't know how cold hardy that would be. Me thinks it looks better as a single owing to the trunk diameter.

Would canariensis x reclinata (either direction) look like the palm in the original post?

[Merlyn]

12 hours ago, awkonradi said:

Would canariensis x reclinata (either direction) look like the palm in the original post?

I suspect that Canariensis x Reclinata would be a LOT bigger.  I recall seeing photos of that hybrid once, and it was utterly monstrous.  There are some photos over here at Dave's Garden: https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/52065/