Pronunciation: sigh-AG-russ bot-tree-oh-FORE-uh
Common Name: Bahia Palm
Syagrus botryophora is a relatively new palm for Southern California, but it is turing out to be a really good one for some areas. Under the right conditions, this can be one of the fastest growing palms in California, though they tend to start out pretty slow when young. In the tropics, it is easily one of the fastest growing palms known, growing up to 6' of trunk a year. It is a very ornamental, dainty Syagrus with neat, fine, short, arching, non-plumose leaves. For whatever reasons (shallow root system?) palms tend to blow over in high winds.
|
Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with an elongated crown of 10-20 pinnate leaves
- Height: 40'
- Trunk: single; 4"-6"" thick; ringed and/or retained leaf bases entire trunk; often live leaves for a good 10' or more of trunk; tan
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 6'-10'
- Leaf Description: pinnate; flat to somewhat 'V' in cross section and arching sharply near tips, almost completing a half circle; narrow leaflets; deep green; 3'-6' long
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 6"-8" long; flat on top, unarmed; some fibrous weave from leaf base to trunk
- Reproduction: monoeciouis
- Inflorescence: 1'-2' long, under short, ovoid dehisced flower spathe; highly branched; cream flowers
- Fruit: 1.5" ovoid; light green to yellowish when ripe
- Seed:
|
Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 30F
- Drought Tolerance: poor
- Dry Heat Tolerance: good
- Wind Tolerance: poor
- Salt Tolerance: low
- Growth Rate: slow to fast with age
- Soil Preference: moist and well draining
- Light Requirement: full sun
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: tends to be chlorotic unless well fertilized and kept moist
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: light requirements too high
- Availability: rare but readily available at palm specialty nurseries; can sometimes be purchased as a large plant, since growth rate can be so high
|
