Sabal species ‘TexMex’ id thoughts

[TobyM]

Howdy yall. I’m making an effort to identify a beautiful Sabal which has been growing for at least three and not more than five years in a prototypical type locality of the North Texas palm: a mexican restaurant. I would have quickly assumed it to be a Sabal mexicana based on its size, depth of the costa, as well as the general abundance of this species hereabouts. But when I approached it I quickly noted the abundance of erect inflorescences, a quality reminding me more of S minor. Yet behold; the panicle is branched thrice, unlike minor.

My next observation pertained to the plant’s performance during the ‘even younger dryas’ Texas Valentine’s ice age 2021. It is on a south facing stucco wall, protecting it from the wind during the ~141 hours below freezing with an ultimate low of -2F. It suffered ~65% defoliation but quickly recovered, making no delay in flowering this spring. Seems comparable to other S. mexicana in the area. 

It is tied up to keep the fronds out of the drive-through, which I thought might be keeping the inflorescences upright. But my inspection left me feeling like the spikes are upright of their own accord, but of course I am uncertain. 

The seeds are varied,  but larger than the S palmetto seed I have seen around here. The infloresence is quite stout. 

Do you know if mexicana flowers before trunking? 

Do you have a guess at the species? 

Muchas gracias!

 

[Fusca]

I'm not sure about the leaf structure/appearance but I can say that those seeds are too small to be mexicana.  I'm thinking perhaps Sabal brazoria since the seed size seems about right and I've seen Sabal brazoria flower at that size.  Below is typical Sabal mexicana seed and fruit.  Seed size also resembles Sabal guatemalensis but shorter leaf petioles and leaf color make me think brazoria.

 

[Chester B]

23 hours ago, Fusca said:

I'm not sure about the leaf structure/appearance but I can say that those seeds are too small to be mexicana.  I'm thinking perhaps Sabal brazoria since the seed size seems about right and I've seen Sabal brazoria flower at that size.  Below is typical Sabal mexicana seed and fruit.  Seed size also resembles Sabal guatemalensis but shorter leaf petioles and leaf color make me think brazoria.

 

I was thinking the same thing.  Note the height of the flower stalks and the strong costapalmate fronds.

[teddytn]

Not sure of exact species but that is definitely a hybrid. Brazoria, or Birmingham most likely. Pretty sure all typical trunking species of Sabal will not flower that young. That has old inflorescence bases from last year and the year before. Also by the time palmetto of mexicana reach that size they will mostly have full costapalmate leaves, those middle ground somewhere between flat and costapalmate are a sure sign it’s a hybrid.