(BxP)xSyagrus accidental cross?

[Patrick]

I was tooling around the yard over the weekend and was taking a look at my Butia xParajubea:

Upon further inspection, it looks like I have a few potentially viable seeds:

The only thing I have around that could possibly cross with these would be my queen palms which are overhead; well, everywhere actually. Are these BxP crosses like the mules where the seeds are sterile? Just wondering if I might actually have some viable seed on my hands. I counted perhaps 5 or 6 of these in different parts of the palm. Thanks for the info!

 

[Ben in Norcal]

15 minutes ago, Patrick said:

I was tooling around the yard over the weekend and was taking a look at my Butia xParajubea:

Upon further inspection, it looks like I have a few potentially viable seeds:

The only thing I have around that could possibly cross with these would be my queen palms which are overhead; well, everywhere actually. Are these BxP crosses like the mules where the seeds are sterile? Just wondering if I might actually have some viable seed on my hands. I counted perhaps 5 or 6 of these in different parts of the palm. Thanks for the info!

 

The seeds are indeed sterile.  Patric Schafer tells me he has never been able to get this cross to take any pollen (my BxP is flowering as well, nothing but duds so far.)  So, will be interesting to see if you actually get anything here!  My guess would be Syagrus as well.

[Patrick]

Thanks Ben,

 

Yeah, usually all of the buds fall off (which is much preferred over my current Livistona "grass" in the back yard). This tree has been flowering for at least 3 or 4 years, but these are the only fruit I've ever seen actually develop.

[Dartolution]

@Patrick only one way to find out!

[Josue Diaz]

wow thats amazing! really interested to see if the seed results to be viable. 

[Alberto]

My BxP also formed some seeds in the past but I didn't try to germinate them. And besides Syagrus, I also have lots of Butia species around.

[Tropicdoc]

I had said a while back to Alberto that a Syagrus pollinating the b x p would make a great palm hybrid!

[Tropicdoc]

Ben, I like the look of your palm. Is that butia paraguayensis x parajubaea?