Spiny Palms

[Daryl]

I was down in the gully today cleaning up the weeds, and had a hard time trying to get the Syngonium away from one of my palms. I have a few spiny palms in my collection, but this one wins hands down. It would take an eye out easily, so I have to exercise a bit of caution near it.

What spiny palms are you growing, and have you ever been stabbed?

Daryl

[BS Man about Palms]

My Acanthophoenix crinita is pretty spikey,

[iwan]

My most spiny at this point is Plectocomia himalayana followed by Acromia acuelata. My Trithrinax'es haven't developed spines yet, but they will probably come in third place.

[ariscott]

Salacca Zalacca. Planting them was a challenge!!

Regards, Ari

[iwan]

Yum.

Salacca Zalacca. Planting them was a challenge!!

Regards, Ari

[epicure3]

Hmmm...only have one. A chamaerops humilis. I seem to get the thorns stuck in my forehead while working underneath it. Ouch! They are a b**ch to gt out too.

[JMBreland]

C. humilis thorns in your forehead *chuckles* I can relate!

The spiniest palm in my yard is a toss-up between P. sylvestris (even the tips of its leaflets sting!) and R. hystrix.

[amazondk]

I have a lot of Astrocaryum tucuma trees on my lot. Although not the spiniest palms in the world, the do rank pretty high up on the spine scale. They produce a lot of tucumã fruit which is a local favorite. I just finished having a tucumã and cheese on french bread sandwich for breakfast.

dk

[amazondk]

I also have some Tucumai, Astrocaryum acaule, near the Mauritias at the low side of the lot. These trees are found in annually flooded areas whereas the Tucumã is only found on dry ground. They have some healthy spines as well. I also have a few varieties of Bactris on the lot that are pretty spiny.

dk

[amazondk]

I was down in the gully today cleaning up the weeds, and had a hard time trying to get the Syngonium away from one of my palms. I have a few spiny palms in my collection, but this one wins hands down. It would take an eye out easily, so I have to exercise a bit of caution near it.

What spiny palms are you growing, and have you ever been stabbed?

Daryl

Daryl,

I have stepped a few times on palm fronds with spines while walking in the forest with rubber flip flops on. Since then I have taken to using boots which also provide a bit more protection from ants and snakes. Some of the forest guides I have been with which go barefoot in the jungle don't seem to even miss a step when they step on a palm thorn. They just stop second, pull it out and continue on. But, then again the soles of their feet are probably tougher than my shoe soles.

dk

[tjwalters]

I'm a bit limited here in zone 7, but I have a pretty big needle, and several smaller ones. I do have a nice potted Aiphanes acuelata with wicked spines, and some seedling Bactris gasipaes.

What IS that palm in the first post? Very impressive!

[Daryl]

I'm a bit limited here in zone 7, but I have a pretty big needle, and several smaller ones. I do have a nice potted Aiphanes acuelata with wicked spines, and some seedling Bactris gasipaes.

What IS that palm in the first post? Very impressive!

Tom, the photo is of a single petiole of my Astrocaryum murumuru. It is quite a large palm now, and is totally covered in spines.

Daryl

[Daryl]

I was down in the gully today cleaning up the weeds, and had a hard time trying to get the Syngonium away from one of my palms. I have a few spiny palms in my collection, but this one wins hands down. It would take an eye out easily, so I have to exercise a bit of caution near it.

What spiny palms are you growing, and have you ever been stabbed?

Daryl

Daryl,

I have stepped a few times on palm fronds with spines while walking in the forest with rubber flip flops on. Since then I have taken to using boots which also provide a bit more protection from ants and snakes. Some of the forest guides I have been with which go barefoot in the jungle don't seem to even miss a step when they step on a palm thorn. They just stop second, pull it out and continue on. But, then again the soles of their feet are probably tougher than my shoe soles.

dk

Don,

I usually cut up the dead leaves and mulch around my palms with them, but the leaves off this one get put on the fire! Amazingly, I have only cut off the first 6 or 7 leaves that this palm grew. All of the other leaves are still alive and well on the plant, and I germinated it from seed 10 years ago. It is now about 24 feet tall. I've never had a palm retain green leaves for 6 or 7 years!

Daryl

[Eric in Orlando]

The spiniest palm we have is Phoenix pusilla (syn. zeylanica). Besides the lower petioles having wicked spines, the leaflets are stiff and spiny.

a few others;

Calamus erectus (a non climbing species)

Salacca wallichiana

Aiphanes minima x horrida (hard to see but it is viscously armed on all parts)

[Eric in Orlando]

Gastrococos crispa

Trithrinax brasiliensis

Zombia antillarum

[epicure3]

All these palm pictures are pretty darn scary looking.

[Alan_Tampa]

It is hard to say which is the most spiny. I have Acrocomia, Salacca, Verschefeltia (pls excuse spelling, I am at work and busy), Aiphanes, Astrocaryum, Calamus. Have been poked a bit by the Aiphanes, and when those things break off they are a real pain to get out, and the Acrocomia is no picnic either!

Alan

[newcal]

Daryl,i have a few spiny ones as you know, but for me it would be my pigafetta elatus especially when you are pruning the petioles and one accidentally falls on your melon when you're not wearing a hat! The tips break off and festure for weeks ....ouch! cheers Mike (Newcal )

[Carlo Morici]

I have these spiny species in the garden:

Phoenix canariensis

Deckenia nobilis

Hyphaene coriacea

Cryosophila sp.

Copernicia gigas

Chamaerops humilis cerifera

Carlo

[ariscott]

Daryl,i have a few spiny ones as you know, but for me it would be my pigafetta elatus especially when you are pruning the petioles and one accidentally falls on your melon when you're not wearing a hat! The tips break off and festure for weeks ....ouch! cheers Mike (Newcal )

Melon .

I just planted another Verschafeltia yesterday to replace one of mine that didn't make it last year. That was another hard palms to plant. I am looking forward to get some pigafetta seeds and plant them in the next few years (not) .

Regards, Ari

Edited June 1, 2008 by ariscott

[Kailua_Krish]

I know this probably isnt too uncommon but P. canariensis is my spinest palm, I got stuck in the forehead with a spine while fertilizing, unfortunately it happened to hit a blood vessel:O

[Alberto]

Five years ago I found only one germinated seed of Astrocaryum aculeatissimum when I was walking in the Atlantic Forest. I brought it to home and planted it in a pot. This year i finally planted it in the shade of my araucaria forest.

´´Aculeatissimum´´ means VERY spiny in Latin!

[DoomsDave]

Any Phoenix.

Trithrinax campestris, the Gaucho Suicide Palm

Trithrinax brasiliensis, the Brazilian Torture Palm . . . . .

[Walter John]

Salaccas are totally junked up with spines.

Photo taken this morning, in Cairns Flecker gardens, stay tuned for a complete report in Travel section which is going to tear the Costa Rica threads to shreads

[Walter John]

Salaccas are totally junked up with spines.

This doesn't count, it's not in my garden, but this is.

Versheffeltia splendida.

[Eric in Orlando]

Calamus latifolius

Rhapidophyllum hystrix

Acrocomia totai

Astrocaryum mexicanum

[AggiePalms]

Without a doubt, the spiniest native palm here is the Needle Palm, Rhapidophyllum hystrix. I have one that I put in my yard a decade ago, the trunk height is maybe two feet, but the leaf spread is 10 or more feet. It is not wise to put a hand in near the trunk; the spines are very unpleasant and point upwards, giving maximum protection for an understory palm. In spite of the spines, it is a great and incredibly hardy palm...no damage at all in 14 degree weather a few years ago!

[FossilNypa]

What spiny palms are you growing, and have you ever been stabbed?

Daryl

.

I've stucked some spines in my hand one time when I tried taking some seeds of Astrocaryum alatum.. The most painful spines where the ones in my fingers.

[ariscott]

Salaccas are totally junked up with spines.

Photo taken this morning, in Cairns Flecker gardens, stay tuned for a complete report in Travel section which is going to tear the Costa Rica threads to shreads

Aren't they gorgeous!! After seeing a few nice ones at Kebon Raya Bogor, I know I had to have one or two.. . Picked 2 up in Cairns last time, but still a little too small to go in!! Can't wait!!

Regards, Ari

[Davidl]

Eric those palms are armed and dangerous. Nice looking palms.

[SubTropicRay]

Acrocomia (Gastrococcus) crispa by far

[Carlos Simón]

Hi,

My other spiny palms are teddy bears compared with: Phoenicophorium, Astrocaryum and specially Aiphanes:

Aiphanes horrida (A. caryotifolia):

Aiphanes minima (A. erosa):

[Carlos Simón]

Phoenicophorium borsigianum

Astrocaryum alatum

Regards,

Carlos

[Walter John]

great stuff here, real tropical feel with spiny palms imo.

[Eric in Orlando]

I got some photos of more spiny specimens.......

Livistona saribus

Rhapidophyllum hystrix- Needle Palm

Cryosophila warscewiczii- Rootspine Palm

Borassodendron machodonis- no spines but the petiole edges are razor sharp

[Eric in Orlando]

Some climbers....

Daemonorops jenkinsiana

Desmoncus orthacanthos

Plectocomia himalayana- the first photo is the cirri

[Eric in Orlando]

Plectocomia elongata

Calamus usitatus- first photo is the cirri while small are very grabby and rip skin easily, doesn't help that it pulls the spiny palm to you once it grabs you

[Eric in Orlando]

Plectocomiopsis sp.- these cirri are very long, at least 5ft.

[Eric in Orlando]

and some other pinnate palms, non-climbers

Acrocomia aculeata

Acanthophoenix rubra

Aiphanes lindeniana

Aiphanes minima

[Eric in Orlando]

Aiphanes minima x horrida

Bactris mexicana

Salacca magnifica

Salacca zalacca