Need help identifying this palm in Santa Barbara

[sirmosasaur]

I am interested in natural history and recently have gotten very into learning more about palms in the hopes of propagating them.

 

So many kinds of palms are flowering/seeding in Santa Barbara right now. I would love some help in identifying them.

Here is one I would love to identify.  It has a very unique looking seed pod.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, sirmosasaur said:

I am interested in natural history and recently have gotten very into learning more about palms in the hopes of propagating them.

 

So many kinds of palms are flowering/seeding in Santa Barbara right now. I would love some help in identifying them.

Here is one I would love to identify.  It has a very unique looking seed pod.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

 

 

Sirmosasaur,, Welcome to the forum,

Pics # 1, 2 & 4 look like Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Aka King Palm. Believe pic #3 is the flower/seed stalk of Howea forsteriana, Kentia Palm..

[Jim in Los Altos]

Photos 1, 2, and 4 are Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (King Palm) and photo 3 is Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm). Both palms are plentiful in Santa Barbara. 

Edited February 24, 2021 by Jim in Los Altos

[sirmosasaur]

41 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Photos 1, 2, and 4 are Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (King Palm) and photo 3 is Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm). Both palms are plentiful in Santa Barbara. 

This is interesting because from my observation they are all the same species of palms. There are several specimens  but they all appear to be identical species.   The seeds for the ones I posted are very small. When I look up the seed pods for the two species you mention their seeds are much larger.  Maybe I am missing something ? 

[awkonradi]

Hi sirmosasaur,

Welcome to PalmTalk.  Jim's and Nathan's eyes can be trusted.  Palmpedia also is a good reference.

http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Archontophoenix_cunninghamiana

http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Howea_forsteriana

Be careful not to confuse unopened blooms, recently opened blooms, developing fruit, and fully developed fruit.  Fully developed fruit on both species will be red colored, but with clearly different structures.  Look again at your specimens, and you will see the differences.  All mosasaurs look alike to me ; )

Edited February 24, 2021 by awkonradi

[awkonradi]

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana fruit.

Edited February 24, 2021 by awkonradi

[awkonradi]

Howea forsteriana fruit

[Darold Petty]

All of the responses are correct.  Palm ID is difficult at first,  Welcome to Palmtalk !  

[GottmitAlex]

7 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

All of the responses are correct.  Palm ID is difficult at first,  Welcome to Palmtalk !  

Hear, hear!

 

[EastCanadaTropicals]

Looks like a king palm to me.

[TomJ]

Living in Santa Barbara I recommend walking around the courthouse downtown.

Walking around the Biltmore in Montecito (Four Seasons).

Lotus Land is what a palm/gardener dreams are made of.

Truly extraordinary place, although you do have to make an appointment and pay.

[sirmosasaur]

On 2/23/2021 at 10:50 PM, Jim in Los Altos said:

Photos 1, 2, and 4 are Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (King Palm) and photo 3 is Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm). Both palms are plentiful in Santa Barbara. 

I went back to take a second look and you are absolutely correct.  It is two different species.  The fronds look different in each with the Howea forsteriana much more droopy. thank you 

[sirmosasaur]

12 hours ago, TomJ said:

Living in Santa Barbara I recommend walking around the courthouse downtown.

Walking around the Biltmore in Montecito (Four Seasons).

Lotus Land is what a palm/gardener dreams are made of.

Truly extraordinary place, although you do have to make an appointment and pay.

My dream is to someday have a nursery and grow various kinds of palms so I will definitely take a look at these locations in SB for inspiration!

 

-sirmosasaur

[Jim in Los Altos]

4 hours ago, sirmosasaur said:

I went back to take a second look and you are absolutely correct.  It is two different species.  The fronds look different in each with the Howea forsteriana much more droopy. thank you 

You probably noticed their trunks looking different as well. 

[Tyrone]

On 2/24/2021 at 3:38 PM, sirmosasaur said:

This is interesting because from my observation they are all the same species of palms. There are several specimens  but they all appear to be identical species.   The seeds for the ones I posted are very small. When I look up the seed pods for the two species you mention their seeds are much larger.  Maybe I am missing something ? 

Welcome to Palmtalk and the world of palms. Your eyes will be opened and you will see things you never saw before.

That is the way it is when you start off in the palm world. In the beginning everything starts off looking kind of similar then eventually you can see the differences and love the experience.