The Palms of the Oblate School of Theology

[GoatLockerGuns]

8 hours ago, richtrav said:

That looks like Brahea decumbens when it is given the good life, in the wild where they’re stressed and burned off occasionally they look a lot more, mmm, xeric. Around Miquihuana and Jaumave there does look like there’s some interaction with dulcis/berlandieri at lower elevations. I have an old (c. 2005) picture of some inflorescences I collected of some intergrade types found near Jaumave. I believe Lynn Lowrey collected the “decumbens” for the San Antonio Botanical Garden in the same general area. 

Great info @richtrav...thank you!  Also, it looks like this Brahea decumbens it is now suckering.  Or, at least, there appears to be multiple other growths coming up from below the main stem.  It currently has inflorescence growing as well.

 

Any idea on the second Brahea sp. there?

[GoatLockerGuns]

I think this Sabal sp. at Oblate looks really nice.  It reminds me of Sabal mauritiiformis from its presentation.  It is strongly costapalmate with a long midrib, and it has some wicked looking protruding hastulas.  I have a hard time believing it is Sabal mauritiiformis though, seeing how it survived the 2021 freeze event.  Anyone have any thoughts on this one?

[RJ]

On 12/20/2022 at 4:58 PM, GoatLockerGuns said:

I think this Sabal sp. at Oblate looks really nice.  It reminds me of Sabal mauritiiformis from its presentation.  It is strongly costapalmate with a long midrib, and it has some wicked looking protruding hastulas.  I have a hard time believing it is Sabal mauritiiformis though, seeing how it survived the 2021 freeze event.  Anyone have any thoughts on this one?

 

 

Looks like a minor to me. Very little leaf recurve.  Is that a seed stalk I see in the last picture? 

[GoatLockerGuns]

2 hours ago, RJ said:

Looks like a minor to me.

That would be the wildest looking Sabal minor I have ever seen.  My Sabal minor look nothing like that.  There is some pretty strong costapalmate fronds going on there too.  But given its history of cold survival, I guess it is possible as some morphological variation.

2 hours ago, RJ said:

Is that a seed stalk I see in the last picture?

I think that is a spear from the main palm.  It looked like the growing point was below ground.

[RJ]

5 minutes ago, GoatLockerGuns said:

That would be the wildest looking Sabal minor I have ever seen.  My Sabal minor look nothing like that.  There is some pretty strong costapalmate fronds going on there too.  But given its history of cold survival, I guess it is possible as some morphological variation.

I think that is a spear from the main palm.  It looked like the growing point was below ground.

I guess I just didn’t see the costapalmate fronds… I see some but mostly just what appear to be really wind tattered fronds 🤷‍♂️. 
 

regarding spear… perhaps but if the growth point is that far underground at that size…. Screams minor, no? 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

The Sabal Sp. Is a Mauritiiformis, Really surprised it survived that freeze.

[GoatLockerGuns]

13 hours ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

The Sabal Sp. Is a Mauritiiformis, Really surprised it survived that freeze.

That is the current working theory...and yeah, really surprising if it is.

[ChrisA]

Does this palm still exist?  I'd love to go check it out if it does.  Been a while since I've been to this location anyway.

[ChrisA]

Hey PT’ers,

Been meaning to provide an update on the palms at Oblate for a bit and finally got around to getting out there to take a look at how things are shaping up.  Overall, most of the palms that were doing well before continue to do well.  Was surprised to see that the large Washingtonia near the Sabal uresana had died since I was last there.  Not sure the reason why. Phoenix dactylifera have taken a big hit and there were several of the bigger specimens that had died and the younger ones are looking ok.  

Unfortunately things weren’t looking as well as I hoped, the combination of recent severe winters (this winter past winter being an exception), years of both never ending drought, and heat waves are taking a toll on those plants that are neglected. Only one Mule palms remains that I could find. The second one had slumped over and now rots in place.

I was able to find the mystery Sabal and would love to know what it actually is but not sure it’s going to survive long enough to ever find out. Really wish they’d water some of these plants every now and then. Can’t count on Mother Nature to do it.

 

anyhow, here are the photos. 
 

[Chester B]

It's pretty sad when you go back and look at the original post in this thread.  Hardly anything left that looks good other than the Sabal uresana and that one Brahea.

[Ben G.]

4 hours ago, Chester B said:

It's pretty sad when you go back and look at the original post in this thread.  Hardly anything left that looks good other than the Sabal uresana and that one Brahea.

It really is a shame. It's been tough weather times since that winter in 2021.

[MarcusH]

I went over there last fall just to see how the "famous" mule recovered .  Kind of disappointing to see how it recovered.  Absolutely neglected , no care at all. I'm sure with the right watering and fertilization schedule it would have been an amazing palm. 

Even with the on-going drought and "severe " freeze the best palms that don't get bothered by anything are Sabal palms ( of all kind) and Washies.  Even Butias look unphased.  

 

 

[ChrisA]

I agree, Sabal and Washies are rock solid here outside of the pure or nearly pure robustas.

 

I really want to know what that Brahea is in the courtyard.  It’s a real looker!