Question about widely varying Mule palm trunk sizes

[James W]

Hi, I'm considering whether or not to purchase a Mule.  One consideration is trunk size.  I see some of them are "fatties" like the ones shown here (about 1/5 of the way down the thread)

and then there are more slender trunk Mules like many shown in this thread.

 

Is this variation just genetics, like maybe the slender ones are more "Queen-heavy" in their genetics?  Any way to ensure I can be growing one of the more slender varieties?

Thanks

 

 

[Fusca]

5 hours ago, James W said:

Is this variation just genetics, like maybe the slender ones are more "Queen-heavy" in their genetics?  Any way to ensure I can be growing one of the more slender varieties?

Thanks

Yes, it's just genetics.  Due a lot to the variation within Butia 'mutts' that the queens are crossed with.  No way of knowing ahead of time other than knowing pureness of the Butia mother.  Patric Shaffer does hybrids of Butia yatay x Syagrus romanzoffiana and if I remember right they tend to be more slender and graceful looking than the standard mule using Butia odorata or Butia catarinensis.  I believe this is also the case with his Lytocaryum weddelliana x Syagrus romanzoffiana hybrid, but these are newer crosses so there's a smaller sample size of mature palms.