Nursery says Trachycarpus for sale

[Cindy Adair]

It is sad, but amusing how few different palms are commonly seen in PR nurseries and how little information is there.
 

I saw this one a few days ago with no label and no price. 

The nice employee said it was rare and had been there a long time. She called someone to get a price of $40 quite pricey by PR standards. 

Funny when I asked the name she put her phone in charge and let whatever app identify it as Trachycarpus fortunei. 

I am thinking Coccothrinax and I like the stiff thin leaflets regardless of the name-if that trait persists into adulthood. 

They have put it aside for me to consider. 

I explained about hybridization and how if I got it I would need to at least plant it far away from others that I hope are species. They are considering a lower price if they can’t name it. 

What’s your guess?

The owner of the business will return tomorrow and he MAY remember more. 

[meridannight]

I agree with Coccothrinax. But as for the species, I have no idea. 
 

 

52 minutes ago, Cindy Adair said:

Funny when I asked the name she put her phone in charge and let whatever app identify it as Trachycarpus fortunei.

I am surprised they didn't consult with AI. XD People are way too trusting of software these days. (It's a pet peeve of mine).

[aztropic]

It appears to be a Coccothrinax hybrid with a little borhidiana (fiber type) in it. I have a couple community pots going of these borhidiana hybrids. Here's one of mine to compare. Anyways,that's my guess. Is that in a 1 gallon pot?

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona 

[happypalms]

Standard sales pitch on that one Cindy.  I used to work in a palm nursery when you get the boss told me just tell them to keep the water up to them luckily for them I had some idea as to what the species was with only common palms available back then, the rarest palm we had in those days was lytocarum weddlianum that sold for $150 for a six inch pot if only I could get those prices today for a wedding palm. 

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks so much everyone.
 

I too was guessing it has some borhidiana in it and it does look like your photos aztropic. 
 

Not sure of pot size, but probably 1 or 2 gallons. 

[DoomsDave]

Cocothrinax for sure, not sure which one, pretty whatever it is.

[donpachino1983]

coccothrinax crinita probably i have old man about same size looking very much the same of course it could be hyperdized.

 

[Cindy Adair]

I agree that the mystery palm does look like yours and my  C. crinita babies. Thanks!

[wimmie]

13 hours ago, happypalms said:

Standard sales pitch on that one Cindy.  I used to work in a palm nursery when you get the boss told me just tell them to keep the water up to them luckily for them I had some idea as to what the species was with only common palms available back then, the rarest palm we had in those days was lytocarum weddlianum that sold for $150 for a six inch pot if only I could get those prices today for a wedding palm. 

You are kidding me; 150 dollars for a Litocarium in a six inch pot?

[Eric in Orlando]

I say C. crinita too since that is a very common species. I have a young one in my yard that looks identical.

[Cindy Adair]

Earlier today I was promised that I would hear something today, but as they closed 2 hours ago I think it’s not happening. 

[aztropic]

Island time! 😄 I've noticed anytime I visit a Caribbean island, it usually takes about half an hour to even place a fast food order at McD's or Wendys...😋

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona 

[Cindy Adair]

Bought it yesterday and here it is repotted and with a (presumptive) label in a messy area where it will await planting. 
 

 

 

Should it show itself later to be a hybrid or another species I will just reprint the label for about 25 cents of tape. 

 

[CascadiaPalms]

Yeah wow, I hear ya.

That's where my trust palm ID app comes into play

[sonoranfans]

AI algorithms are only as good as the data input, and with thousands of palms of all ages and conditions its a crapshoot.  They are getting better but it takes lots of data and objects that have distinguishable features from other objects in the application.  At certain ages, some palms are indistinguishable, they often must mature to be identifiable even by botanists.  One day perhaps a decade or two away they will be almost as good as a botanist.  Visual images have different perspectives, plants of different ages and climatological conditions..  My doctoral thesis was in using what everyone calls AI today to discern contents from spectral signatures.  Images are likely less definitive since they are not quantitative.  Dont be a sucker for AI solving your problems, not yet.  I'll bet a young sabal cannot be identified reliably at all, they all look alike till they get some size and even then fruits and inflorescences are the best way to identify them.  The math in AI is not new, its been around for 20-30 years.  The massive amounts of data required for the learning process is what is becoming available along with faster computers.  Still it will take time, its not the algorithm its the data and the species must be distinguishable from similar species.  My sister visited my place last year and her AP choked on mature copernicia fallaensis but nailed bismarckia and royals.  By now they probably can identify the copernicia, though  I'd like to see if it could identify a blue baileyana from a hospita, I doubt it.  Right now and for years to come, the botanist will be a much better bet.

[Cindy Adair]

Very interesting and insightful sonoranfans!