Phoenix theophrasti 7538
Author: Werner Rodolfo Greuter (1938-)Family: Arecaceae Subfamily: Coryphoideae Tribe: Phoeniceae
Genus: Phoenix
English name: Cretan date palm
Zone: Mediterranean
Description
This species was first described from Vaí in Crete and is now recorded from nine coastal localities on that island. Since 1982 the species has been recorded from the Datca Peninsula and Kumluca-Karaöz regions of southwestern Anatolia in Turkey, from sea-level to 350m. It is found in coastal areas, either on steep calcareous cliffs and rocks within a few meters of the sea, or somewhat inland along moist valley floors, stream banks and rocky gullies. Occurrence of the palms invariably indicates a water-source.
Phoenix theophrasti Observed in Greece by arkim (license)
Botanical Description
This is a clustering tree palm. The stem is to 17m tall, without leaf sheaths circa 50cm in diameter, with leaves persistent in upper trunk, otherwise with persistent, diamond-shaped leaf bases.
The leaves are obliquely vertical in orientation, circa 2-4m long. The leaf sheath is fibrous, reddish-brown. The pseudo-petiole is 50-70cm long. The acanthophylls are irregularly arranged in more than one plane, to 10 on each side of the rachis, yellow to orange-green. The leaflets are irregularly arranged in one to two planes of orientation, circa 65-100 on each side of the rachis, stiff, to 50 x 2cm. The lamina is concolorous, glaucous, surfaces often white with waxy coating.
The staminate inflorescences are erect. The prophyll is coriaceous, splitting twice between margins, circa 45 x 8cm. The peduncle is to circa 40cm long. The rachillae are to circa 10cm long. The staminate flowers are yellow-white, with strong musty scent. The calyx cupule is 2-3mm high. There are 3 petals (rarely 4), 8 x 3.5mm. There are 6 stamens (rarely 7). The pistillate inflorescences are erect, arching slightly with fruit maturity. The prophyll is to 50 x 6cm. The peduncle is elongating on fruit set, to circa 70cm. The rachillae are to circa 80 in number, elongating on fruit set, to circa 50cm long. The pistillate flowers are yellow-white, with 3-lobed calyx cupule 2-2.5mm high. There are 3 petals (rarely 4), 2 x 3mm.
The fruit is oblong, circa 15 x 10mm, green-yellow to brown, with sparse, mealy, sweet mesocarp. The seed is with rounded apices, 11-13 x 6-7mm. The embryo is lateral opposite raphe. The endosperm is homogeneous.
The leaves are obliquely vertical in orientation, circa 2-4m long. The leaf sheath is fibrous, reddish-brown. The pseudo-petiole is 50-70cm long. The acanthophylls are irregularly arranged in more than one plane, to 10 on each side of the rachis, yellow to orange-green. The leaflets are irregularly arranged in one to two planes of orientation, circa 65-100 on each side of the rachis, stiff, to 50 x 2cm. The lamina is concolorous, glaucous, surfaces often white with waxy coating.
The staminate inflorescences are erect. The prophyll is coriaceous, splitting twice between margins, circa 45 x 8cm. The peduncle is to circa 40cm long. The rachillae are to circa 10cm long. The staminate flowers are yellow-white, with strong musty scent. The calyx cupule is 2-3mm high. There are 3 petals (rarely 4), 8 x 3.5mm. There are 6 stamens (rarely 7). The pistillate inflorescences are erect, arching slightly with fruit maturity. The prophyll is to 50 x 6cm. The peduncle is elongating on fruit set, to circa 70cm. The rachillae are to circa 80 in number, elongating on fruit set, to circa 50cm long. The pistillate flowers are yellow-white, with 3-lobed calyx cupule 2-2.5mm high. There are 3 petals (rarely 4), 2 x 3mm.
The fruit is oblong, circa 15 x 10mm, green-yellow to brown, with sparse, mealy, sweet mesocarp. The seed is with rounded apices, 11-13 x 6-7mm. The embryo is lateral opposite raphe. The endosperm is homogeneous.
Useful plant
In Crete leaves of Phoenix theophrasti are used in Palm Sunday celebrations.
References
- A monograph of Phoenix L. (Palmae: Coryphoideae), Sasha C. Barrow. Kew Bulletin 1998 Vol. 53(3) pag. 551-553. JStor
References
- A monograph of Phoenix L. (Palmae: Coryphoideae), Sasha C. Barrow. Kew Bulletin 1998 Vol. 53(3) pag. 551-553. JStor
References for the genus
- A monograph of Phoenix L. (Palmae: Coryphoideae), Sasha C. Barrow. Kew Bulletin 1998 Vol. 53(3) pag. 513-575. JStor
- Morphology of juvenile palms of four species of Phoenix, Ghosh, SS and De, SK and DA VIS01, TA. PALM 1987 pag. 19. Address
- Systematics and evolution of the genus Phoenix: towards understanding the date palm's origins, Gros-Balthazard, Muriel and Baker, William and Leitch, Ilia and Pellicer, Jaume and Powell, Robyn and Bellot, Sidonie. 2020. DOI
- Hybridization in the genus Phoenix: A review, Gros-Balthazard, Muriel. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture 2013 pag. 831-842. Address
- Morphology of juvenile palms of four species of Phoenix, Ghosh, SS and De, SK and DA VIS01, TA. PALM 1987 pag. 19. Address
- Systematics and evolution of the genus Phoenix: towards understanding the date palm's origins, Gros-Balthazard, Muriel and Baker, William and Leitch, Ilia and Pellicer, Jaume and Powell, Robyn and Bellot, Sidonie. 2020. DOI
- Hybridization in the genus Phoenix: A review, Gros-Balthazard, Muriel. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture 2013 pag. 831-842. Address
General specifications
Biological type: tree
Frost resistance: 27ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Flower color: orange
Fragrant: Yes
IUCN Red List of threatened species status: Lower Risk/near threatened
Indexed Sensitive to the insect Rhynchophorus ferrugineus The Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry.
Indexed Sensitive to the insect Opogona sacchari The Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry.
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 49,2ft x 8,2ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: aloe
Flowering time at May
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 30%Compost+30%Coco+40%Sand
Plant watering: 3x a week pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Cycads; mini greenhouse, forest pot 3L, container 6L, container 55L, container 110L
Propagation is done by seeds
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 500-1000mm
Gravelly soil: much
Saline soil: a little
Limestone soil: much
Coastal soil: much
Frost resistance: 27ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Flower color: orange
Fragrant: Yes
IUCN Red List of threatened species status: Lower Risk/near threatened
Indexed Sensitive to the insect Rhynchophorus ferrugineus The Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry.
Indexed Sensitive to the insect Opogona sacchari The Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry.
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 49,2ft x 8,2ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: aloe
Flowering time at May
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 30%Compost+30%Coco+40%Sand
Plant watering: 3x a week pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Cycads; mini greenhouse, forest pot 3L, container 6L, container 55L, container 110L
Propagation is done by seeds
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 500-1000mm
Gravelly soil: much
Saline soil: a little
Limestone soil: much
Coastal soil: much
Sowing instructions
SPRING The seeds are sown in mini-greenhouses on a moist but aerated substrate composed of potting soil, heather earth and perlite, maintained at 27 ° C. They are placed on the surface and after their germination in deep containers.
Germination references
- Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin, Carol and Baskin, J.M. 2014 pag. 1-1586. DOI
Germination references
- Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin, Carol and Baskin, J.M. 2014 pag. 1-1586. DOI
Experiences in the garden
09-04-19A Obtaining seeds from seed provider Rare Palm Seeds.
17-05-19 Sown seeds in a tray and germinated at 29-07-19.
Protocol: Spring 4mm Sowing mix+Sand 68-77°F Damp substrate+Light
04-04-22 Sown 60 seeds in a mini serre and germinated at 27-06-22.
Protocol: Spring 4mm Sowing mix+Sand 64-72°F Cycadales
. . . 2019A Production of 15 plants in our nursery: Resin21 13x A45 Ombr9d 2x C6
08-01-21 1x Dead plant: No information: Ombr8d C6.
. . . 2022A Production of 1 plants in our nursery: Serre2 1x F3