Acrocomia crispa
Acrocomia (ak-roh-koh-MEE-ah) crispa (KRIS-pah) | |||||||
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Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Acrocomia crispa is endemic to Cuba, distributed all over the island, where it is found in open forests on calcareous limestone soils. Formerly placed in its own genus, Gastrococos, recent work found that that genus was nested within Acrocomia.Description
Up to 12 m. tall, and 30 cm. in diam., a spiny palm, with a trunk that is slender at the base, but swollen in the middle, giving it the name "Cuban belly palm", spines fall from trunk when mature. Crown has a spread of up to 5 m., pinnate arching leaves, up to 2.5 m. long, dark green on top, pale blue-green on the underside, pinnae, and rachis covered with spines, thorny inflorescence, monoecious, fruit is globose, orange-yellow, about 2.5 cm. in diameter. Editing by edric.
Culture
Sunny, well drained position, but with plenty of water. Very slow growing when young, however fairly rapid past the juvenile stage, and speed up considerably when they start to trunk. Seeds difficult to germinate, up to one year. Hardiness: USDA zones, 9B-11.
Comments and Curiosities
This is a tillering palm, it exhibits saxophone style root growth (it has a heel), keep top third of heel above soil elevation!.
Formerly known as Gastrocococ crispa.
External links
- Glossary of Palm Terms
- MODERN BOTANICAL LATIN
- "Just To Be Clear"
- http://www.photomazza.com/?Gastrococos-crispa
- http://www.florida-palm-trees.com/cuban-belly-palm-tree/
- http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/virtualtours/cuba/vpe_palmsofcuba1.htm
- http://perfildaplanta.blogspot.com/2010/07/roystoneas-confusoes-imperiais-parte-ii.html
- THE SAXOPHONE STYLE ROOT GROWTH (HEEL)
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.
Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.
Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.