Syagrus ruschiana

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Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs)
ruschiana (roo-kee-AHN-ah)
Syagrus ruschiana inflorescence.jpg
Floribunda Palms, Hawaii. Photo by Paul Craft.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Syagrus (see-AHG-ruhs)
Species:
ruschiana (roo-kee-AHN-ah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
America.gif
Morphology
Habit: Clustering.
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Rock Coconut (coco-da-pedra)

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil Southeast. Open forest. South-eastern Brazil. Native: Brazil (Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais). It is distributed in an area which is unattractive for agriculture and pastoralism. Endemic to Atlantic forest between 100 and 400 m.

Floribunda Palms, Hawaii. Photo by Dr. Scott Zona.

Description

A medium-sized clustering palm with slender stems and finely pinnate leaves.

Culture

Sunny, moist, but well drained position. Probably frost and drought tolerant judging by its habitat. Rarely seen in cultivation. Appearance and Biology-Horticultural Characteristics

PFC for PP.png

Comments and Curiosities

"This ornamental clustering palm with graceful shiny foliage grows on very rocky thin soil areas." "I have this Syagrus ruschiana growing in our garden altho' it really should be in a bit more open location to appreciate it more as well as photograph it better. Be that as it may, see the below pic of it which is now approximately 9 ft.+ tall and has one main trunk with several other smaller ones and a new one just forming. It has produced some seed already. It seems to grow well with very little supplemental water. Definitely has some drought tolerance. Sorry for the quality of the picture due to so much other vegetation growing nearby making a clear picture difficult." (Al in Kona)

"Syagrus ruschiana is still a rather rare palm for California, but so far it is turning out to be a nice dainty little palm that does fairly well in several warmer climates in varying degrees of sun exposure. As of 2014 there are no fruiting palm yet, but that may not be too far in the future. Though a clustering species, it takes some time to start making offsets, so starts out as a solitary sometimes not until maturity." (Geoff Stein)

Syagrus ruschiana has done surprisingly well for me here in Natchez. I placed a small plant (really still a large seedling) in the ground in 2007 and it was subjected to three good, hard freezes last winter: one 15-hour event bottoming out at 23.3F; and two others of about 8 hours' duration with lows of about 25-26F. Also two freak (albeit brief) snowstorms here in my low-9a climate-zone location. I did mulch the plant somewhat, and ultimately the leaf-tissue above the mulch-line was destroyed, but the plant itself was just fine. Our average temps here at the low-point in January at my location are about 43/60 with rather wet and overcast conditions, so just a tiny bit warmer than the 50-degree isotherm...so soil is wet and chilly December-Jan-Feb...and hence this palm even when small can tolerate those dreaded cool, wet conditions.

The palm regrew well in spring and unfortunately became completely shaded out by other vegetation...the result being only two leaves this year, though they are larger than last year and quite healthy. The plant endured a good amount of heat and periods of drought this summer and fall, punctuated by Hurricane Gustav's torrential rainfall. I'm amazed how well this plant has grown here, and would encourage others in zone 9a&b areas to try it with some protection/mulching while young. In desert areas like Phoenix I would think morning sun only would be your best bet.

S. botryophora has also done well in a protected area against the SW-facing front of the house. This like ruschiana is a slow grower in its pre-pinnate stage. I planted a small S. flexuosa this year, which is a much faster grower for me here even when small (and has reputed cold-tolerance). This latter species I think may be the best bet for a rather hardy clustering Syagrus. (Michael Norell)

A rarely seen, mid-sized species from southeastern Brazil with slender, clustering stems and feathery, pinnate leaves that resembles Lytocaryum. (RPS.com)



External Links

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.

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