Coccothrinax readii?

[lagartos]

Hello all:

I am in the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve on the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Here we are in the homeland of the sometimes planted Coccothrinax readii. I am insecure about distinguishing that palm from the similar and also commonly encountered Thrinax radiata.

Having no palm nuts I can't see the features of seed albumen separating the genera. Also, their environment here among the coastal dunes is so hot, windy, sunny and salty that plants grow scraggly, unlike their representatives planted in gardens. I'm unsure whether I'm seeing unusually mature but stunted Thrinax radiata, or Coccothrinax readii the way it normally looks when weather beaten along the coast.

I read in several places that Coccothrinax plants grow alone, but I find what I think is Coccothrinax in clumps. Their growing in clumps and having trunks that are thick relative to their small fronds, is how I recognize Coccothrinax -- if it is Coccothrinax.

I attach some photos. If anyone familiar with the species can offer an opinion in the plants' identity I'd be grateful.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

[Josh-O]

Jim welcome to palm talk!!! It's always nice to greet new members to a great palm community. how close are you to the ocean? Those leaves look severely salt burnt.

[lagartos]

Hi Josh-O. Thanks for the welcome. I have lots of palm questions so you may see more of me again. The plants in the pictures are just over the dunes from the Gulf of Mexico and have every right to be salt burned, sun burned and wind burned. There are many kms of this within 1km of shore. They are in the environment shown below with Pseudophoenix sargentii rising above everything here and there. Jim

[aztropic]

Those clumps all look like Thrinax radiata.Thrinax has white berries and Coccothrinax has purple if you ever catch them in seed.Would love to see some closer pics of the wild Pseudophoenix sometime.

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[aztropic]

Also,looking at the pic showing a closeup of the leaf bases,these are definitely split,proving Thrinax.A Coccothrinax will just have a single unsplit stalk coming up through the "burlap"fibers.This trait should make ID a lot easier for you.

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[lagartos]

Thanks aztropic. Sounds pretty convincing, so now I need to go find those Coccothrinax readiis that are supposed to be here. In gratitude I'll now post some wild Pseudophoenix pix you asked for. Jim

[aztropic]

Here is a side by side comparison of cultivated Coccothrinax readii on the left vs. Thrinax radiata on the right.Both palms look similar.Split leaf base stalks will ID the thrinax for you though.

Aztropic

Mesa, Arizona