W. robusta grows to 25 m (82 ft) tall, rarely up to 30 m (98 ft). The leaves have a petiole up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long, and a palmate fan of leaflets up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) long. The petioles are armed with sharp thorns. The inflorescence is up to 3 m (10 ft) long, with numerous small, pale orange-pink flowers. The fruit is a spherical, blue-black drupe, 6–8 mm (1⁄4–5⁄16 in) diameter; it is edible, though thin-fleshed.[6]
TaxonomyEdit
It is one of two species in the genus Washingtonia. The other is the close relative Washingtonia filifera, which occupies a more northerly distribution. Compared with W. robusta, W. filifera has a thicker trunk and dull green leaves.[7]
This palm is native to the Baja California peninsula and Sonora. On the peninsula, it occurs from the Sierra de La Asamblea and the Baja California desert south into the Vizcaino region and the Sierra de La Giganta, and into the southern cape.[8] In Sonora, it occurs in canyons in the western half of the state, particularly in the palm oases of the Sierra El Aguaje north of Guaymas. It is relatively restricted, and is suspected to be a relict population in Sonora. It has the least number of plants in the palm oases that are shared with two other more numerous species, Brahea brandegeei and Sabal uresana.[7]
CultivationEdit
The approximate range of cultivation of Mexican fan palms in the US with little to no winter protection
Like the closely related Washingtonia filifera (California fan palm), it is grown as an ornamental tree. Although very similar, the Mexican washingtonia has a narrower trunk (which is typically somewhat wider at the base), and grows slightly faster and taller; it is also somewhat less cold hardy than the California fan palm, hardy to about −8 °C (18 °F).
Field research conducted on W. robusta in its native habitat on the Baja California peninsula concluded that its potential longevity may exceed 500 years.[9]
Supporting research by Barry Tomlinson and Brett Huggett states that there is "evidence for extreme longevity of metabolically functioning cells of considerable diversity in palm stems."[10] Many of the iconic "sky dusters" of Los Angeles that have survived the chainsaws of progress are documented in photography from the 19th century.
Washingtonia × filibusta is a hybrid of W. robusta and W. filifera, and has intermediate characteristics of the two parents, especially greater tolerance of wet cold.[11]
^Felger, Richard Stephen; Johnson, Matthew Brian; Wilson, Michael Francis (2001). The Trees of Sonora, Mexico. New York, New York: Oxford University Press. p. 391. ISBN0-19-512891-5.
^Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families,Washingtonia robusta
^Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
^Little, Elbert L. (1994) [1980]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region (Chanticleer Press ed.). Knopf. p. 326. ISBN0394507614.
^ abFelger, Richard S.; Joyal, Elaine (1999). "The Palms (Arecaceae) of Sonora, Mexico" (PDF). Aliso. 18: 1–18. doi:10.5642/aliso.19991801.11. S2CID 89510057.
^ abRebman, J. P.; Gibson, J.; Rich, K. (2016). "Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Baja California, Mexico" (PDF). San Diego Society of Natural History. 45: 275.
^Bullock, S.H.; Heath, D. (2006). "Growth rates and age of native palms in the Baja California desert". Journal of Arid Environments. 67 (3): 391–402. Bibcode:2006JArEn..67..391B. doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2006.03.002.
^Tomlinson, P. Barry; Huggett, Brett A. (2012-12-01). "Cell longevity and sustained primary growth in palm stems". American Journal of Botany. 99 (12): 1891–1902. doi:10.3732/ajb.1200089. ISSN 0002-9122. PMID 23221497.
^Riffle, Robert Lee (2008). Timber Press Pocket Guide to Palms. Timber Press Pocket Guides. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 224. ISBN978-0-88192-776-4.
External linksEdit
Flora of North America Vol. 22 Page 106 Mexican fan palm, palmier évantail du Mexique Washingtonia robusta H. Wendland, Garten-Zeitum (Berlin). 2: 198. 1883.
Scanpalm - Washingtonia robusta
October 22, 2023
washingtonia, robusta, known, common, name, mexican, palm, mexican, washingtonia, skyduster, palm, tree, native, baja, california, peninsula, small, part, sonora, northwestern, mexico, despite, limited, native, distribution, robusta, most, widely, cultivated, . Washingtonia robusta known by common name as the Mexican fan palm Mexican washingtonia or skyduster is a palm tree native to the Baja California peninsula and a small part of Sonora in northwestern Mexico Despite its limited native distribution W robusta one of the most widely cultivated subtropical palms in the world 3 It is naturalized in Florida California Nevada Arizona New Mexico Hawaii Texas parts of the Canary Islands Spain Portugal France Italy Malta Albania Greece Turkey Cyprus Israel Palestine Jordan Lebanon Syria Iraq Saudi Arabia Bahrain Qatar United Arab Emirates Oman Yemen Iran Afghanistan Egypt Libya Tunisia Algeria Morocco and Reunion 4 5 citation needed Washingtonia robustaMexican washingtonias planted in Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic GardenScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade MonocotsClade CommelinidsOrder ArecalesFamily ArecaceaeTribe TrachycarpeaeGenus WashingtoniaSpecies W robustaBinomial nameWashingtonia robustaH Wendl 1 Synonyms 2 Synonymy Brahea robusta VossNeowashingtonia robusta H Wendl A HellerNeowashingtonia sonorae S Watson RosePritchardia robusta H Wendl Schrot Washingtonia filifera var gracilis Parish L D BensonWashingtonia filifera var robusta H Wendl ParishWashingtonia filifera var sonorae S Watson M E JonesWashingtonia gracilis ParishWashingtonia robusta var gracilis Parish Parish ex Becc Washingtonia sonorae S Watson Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 2 1 Nomenclature 3 Distribution 4 Cultivation 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksDescription EditW robusta grows to 25 m 82 ft tall rarely up to 30 m 98 ft The leaves have a petiole up to 1 m 3 ft 3 in long and a palmate fan of leaflets up to 1 metre 3 ft 3 in long The petioles are armed with sharp thorns The inflorescence is up to 3 m 10 ft long with numerous small pale orange pink flowers The fruit is a spherical blue black drupe 6 8 mm 1 4 5 16 in diameter it is edible though thin fleshed 6 Taxonomy EditIt is one of two species in the genus Washingtonia The other is the close relative Washingtonia filifera which occupies a more northerly distribution Compared with W robusta W filifera has a thicker trunk and dull green leaves 7 Nomenclature Edit 8 English Mexican fan palm Mexican washingtonia skyduster Spanish abanico palma colorado palma real palma blanca palma negra Seri Zamij ctamDistribution EditThis palm is native to the Baja California peninsula and Sonora On the peninsula it occurs from the Sierra de La Asamblea and the Baja California desert south into the Vizcaino region and the Sierra de La Giganta and into the southern cape 8 In Sonora it occurs in canyons in the western half of the state particularly in the palm oases of the Sierra El Aguaje north of Guaymas It is relatively restricted and is suspected to be a relict population in Sonora It has the least number of plants in the palm oases that are shared with two other more numerous species Brahea brandegeei and Sabal uresana 7 Cultivation Edit nbsp The approximate range of cultivation of Mexican fan palms in the US with little to no winter protectionLike the closely related Washingtonia filifera California fan palm it is grown as an ornamental tree Although very similar the Mexican washingtonia has a narrower trunk which is typically somewhat wider at the base and grows slightly faster and taller it is also somewhat less cold hardy than the California fan palm hardy to about 8 C 18 F Field research conducted on W robusta in its native habitat on the Baja California peninsula concluded that its potential longevity may exceed 500 years 9 Supporting research by Barry Tomlinson and Brett Huggett states that there is evidence for extreme longevity of metabolically functioning cells of considerable diversity in palm stems 10 Many of the iconic sky dusters of Los Angeles that have survived the chainsaws of progress are documented in photography from the 19th century The Mexican fan palm is normally grown in the desert Southwestern United States in areas such as California Arizona southern Nevada extreme southwestern Utah and Texas It also cultivated in the coastal areas of South Atlantic states and the Gulf Coast including extreme southern North Carolina coastal South Carolina southern Georgia and Florida Along the Gulf Coast Mexican fan palms can be found growing along the Florida west coast westward to South Texas Washingtonia filibusta is a hybrid of W robusta and W filifera and has intermediate characteristics of the two parents especially greater tolerance of wet cold 11 Gallery Edit nbsp Flowering palm in Chandler Arizona nbsp Infructescence nbsp Inflorescence nbsp Arizona State University s Palm Walk nbsp Species in Venice Beach California nbsp W robusta growing in Saint Simons Island Georgia nbsp W robusta and Canary Island date palms are commonly seen lining many streets throughout San Jose California nbsp Palm trees lined up at S Occidental Blvd between Koreatown and Westlake of Los Angeles California nbsp Species line Santa Clara Street in San Jose California nbsp Oldest palms in Los Angeles plantedcirca 1875 nbsp A Mexican fan palm tree in Enterprise AlabamaReferences Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Washingtonia robusta nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Washingtonia robusta Washingtonia robusta Germplasm Resources Information Network Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture Retrieved 2010 07 17 The Plant List Felger Richard Stephen Johnson Matthew Brian Wilson Michael Francis 2001 The Trees of Sonora Mexico New York New York Oxford University Press p 391 ISBN 0 19 512891 5 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Washingtonia robusta Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map Little Elbert L 1994 1980 The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees Western Region Chanticleer Press ed Knopf p 326 ISBN 0394507614 a b Felger Richard S Joyal Elaine 1999 The Palms Arecaceae of Sonora Mexico PDF Aliso 18 1 18 doi 10 5642 aliso 19991801 11 S2CID 89510057 a b Rebman J P Gibson J Rich K 2016 Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Baja California Mexico PDF San Diego Society of Natural History 45 275 Bullock S H Heath D 2006 Growth rates and age of native palms in the Baja California desert Journal of Arid Environments 67 3 391 402 Bibcode 2006JArEn 67 391B doi 10 1016 j jaridenv 2006 03 002 Tomlinson P Barry Huggett Brett A 2012 12 01 Cell longevity and sustained primary growth in palm stems American Journal of Botany 99 12 1891 1902 doi 10 3732 ajb 1200089 ISSN 0002 9122 PMID 23221497 Riffle Robert Lee 2008 Timber Press Pocket Guide to Palms Timber Press Pocket Guides Portland Oregon Timber Press p 224 ISBN 978 0 88192 776 4 External links EditFlora of North America Vol 22 Page 106 Mexican fan palm palmier evantail du Mexique Washingtonia robusta H Wendland Garten Zeitum Berlin 2 198 1883 Scanpalm Washingtonia robusta Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Washingtonia robusta amp oldid 1172385333, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
