Pseudophoenix sargentii, N.P. Bahamas

[aztropic]

Palm is native throughout the Caribbean but notoriously scarce on New Providence island,home to the capital of the Bahamas. (Nassau) Did manage to find a few individuals in the wild,but they are very few and far between.Leucothrinax morrissii is the most common native palm on the island.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[Palmarum]

Great find. Did you notice any evidence of poaching, land clearing or any reason why there were so few specimens in habitat? I met a landscaper once at TPIE that mentioned that a few islands had problems with rats eating seed of native plants.

Ryan

[aztropic]

No poaching or land clearing but lots of rats! The wild ones I saw were around bonefish pond,a very remote area of the island. Very dense jungle growing on solid limestone with salt water intrusion.

This species is very rare,even in the islands landscaping.Maybe 20 individual trees total island wide.Maybe 6 at Atlantis,another 6 at a bank on Charlotte street,5 at a house/development across from Cable beach,and a few small ones at an individual house,south side of the island.This was my 15th trip to Nassau and the first time I was able to actually find them in the wild,after years and years of searching.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[SilverDragon]

Two of my favorites, L morrisii and P sargentii, just wish the latter was a bit more prolific.

[AZPalms]

Great find Scott! Do I dare say yours look just as impressive in your yard as they do in habitat! 

 

Max