Hemithrinax compacta

Hemithrinax (heh-mee-TRIH-nahks) compacta (kohm-PAHK-tah)
Palmetum de Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Spain. Photo by Dr. Scott Zona.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Hemithrinax (heh-mee-TRIH-nahks) Species: compacta (kohm-PAHK-tah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Palmate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Endemic to Cuba.

Palmetum de Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Spain. Photo by Dr. Scott Zona.

Description

Hemithrinax compacta (syn. Thrinax compacta) is a species of palm that is endemic to Cuba. Hemithrinax compacta flourishes on the of Cuba. Mogotes are dome-shaped hills in Cuba made up of coral rock. Hemithrinax compacta is the only species in its genus in Cuba that grows in the highlands, at an elevation of 450 m. Hemithrinax compacta needs to have more than 2400 mm per year of rainfall and a mean temperature of 22 degrees Celsius. The leaves of the palm have an average length of 190 cm and the inflorescence of the palm is tightly clustered, giving rise to the species name. A mature H. compacta can have a massive trunk of up to 10 cm thick and more than 20 m in height. The Thrinax genus has been grown in gardens. In addition, in the Thrinax genus the fruits are dispersed and eaten by red-bellied woodpeckers, birds, gray squirrels and lizards. Morici, Carlos. "The Genus Thrinax in Cuba." Palms (2000)