Difference between revisions of "Trithrinax brasiliensis"

Revision as of 22:06, 11 August 2015

Pronunciation: try-THRIN-ax bruh-ZILL-ee-en-siss

Common Name: Brazilian Needle Palm

Trithrinax brasiliensis is a very hardy fan palm for most areas of California that do not experience deep freezes for an extended period of time. Though initially somewhat superficially similar to Trachycarpus fortunei, it differs by having stiffer, large fan leaves and a spectacularly spiny trunk. Still, some commercial and public landscaping, particularly in southern California, will include one of these alongside several Trachycarpus, obviously with the planter assuming it was the same palm. The name Trithrinax acanthocoma has gone in and out of synonymy multiple times. Currently it has gone back to a true species, but since differences between this species and that one are very subtle, no separation has been made in this compilation (yet).

Appearance and Biology

Habit: solitary with a crown of 20-25 fan leaves
Height: 20'
Trunk: single (rarely multiple); 12" thick; covered with thick, woody, sharp downward-pointed spines about 3"-4" long; spines arise off a dense, woody weave of fiber-like material surrounding the entire trunk; retained leaf bases also persist on trunk for most of its height; also a great deal of softer fibrous material surrounding leaf bases as well; trunks can be cleaned to remove both leaf bases and spines, and some aged palms will naturally do so near the bases
Crownshaft: none
Spread: 10'
Leaf Description: palmate; semicircular; with stiff, evenly spaced leaflets with show only minimal drooping at the tips (if at all); 4'-5' long; medium green, though sometimes with a glaucous surface to them
Petiole/Leaf bases: 18"-24"; slightly arching; narrow; light green to yellow-green; unarmed
Reproduction: monoecious
Inflorescence: from within crown; arching downward 2'-3 long; branched; white flowers
Fruit: spherical; 1" diameter; bright green turning pale yellow or yellow-green when ripe; brown when really ripe

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 15F
Drought Tolerance: good, once established
Dry Heat Tolerance: good
Wind Tolerance: good
Salt Tolerance: low
Growth Rate: slow
Soil Preference: very widely adaptable
Light Requirement: partial to full sun
Human Hazards: very thick and sharp woody spines along trunk to the very top of the palm
Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
Transplants?: reportedly fairly tolerant of moving
Indoor?: unlikely to do well
Availability: moderately rare, occasionally showing up at non-specialty nurseries; fresh seed readily available about California as mature palms are profuse seed producers

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 '''''Trithrinax brasiliensis''''' is a very hardy fan palm for most areas of California that do not experience deep freezes for an extended period of time.  Though initially somewhat superficially similar to ''Trachycarpus fortune''i, it differs by having stiffer, large fan leaves and a spectacularly spiny trunk.  Still, some commercial and public landscaping, particularly in southern California, will include one of these alongside several Trachycarpus, obviously with the planter assuming it was the same palm.  The name ''Trithrinax acanthocoma'' has gone in and out of synonymy multiple times.  Currently it has gone back to a true species, but since differences between this species and that one are very subtle, no separation has been made in this compilation (yet).
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 *'''Availability''': moderately rare, occasionally showing up at non-specialty nurseries; fresh seed readily available about California as mature palms are profuse seed producers
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 File:Trithrinax brasilensis Huntington.jpg|Huntington gardens, California

Difference between revisions of "Trithrinax brasiliensis"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Revision as of 22:06, 11 August 2015