Phoenix atlantica. (?)

[Alberto]

This palm I cultivated from a little seedling that came from Italy. It looks so close to a regular P. canariensis that I have my doubts about the ID. What do you think?

[Alberto]

[Pal Meir]

Normal Phoenix canariensis

[Phoenikakias]

Could not be more true to type CIDP!

Edited May 26, 2023 by Phoenikakias

[Phoenikakias]

Alberto, for what it may be worth, I I obtained a handful seeds of the taxon Phoenix Atlantica var Marocana. Kew has classified in to synonymity with P dactylifera. However, as I had the chance to grow at same time and of same age seedlings of this taxon, of P theophrasti (seeds brought from Vai) and of P dactylifera (from medjool dates), I spotted some very remarkable common features of first to and in absent in the third one. Perhaps those common traits are indications of wild Phoenix spp. 

So first common trait is that both had quite narrow eophylls, about half a time narrower that the eophylls of medjool dactylifera.

Left eophyll of atlantica var marocana and right of theophrasti Vai population, latter is more glaucous while former had a peculiar color intermediate between CIDP and dactylifera (deeper green)

Comparison of eophylls between atlantica var marocana and dactylifera seed medjool. Latter had identical color to theophrasti.

Furthermore both theophrasti and atlantica did not have initially the vigorous root system of dactylifera, which of course had an impact on their speed of growth and amenability to root disturbance. The dactylifera juveniles, though of identical age started one year earlier leaf division.

Dactylifera juveniles in June and December 2021 respectively

 

Atlantica var marocana towards end of May 2022. One individual had barely initiated leaf division!

Also as the leaf division progressed, I noticed that leaflets are also narrower with sharper tips than dactylifera. The narrower leaflets were also observed on a juvenile  Phoenix sylvestris I grow also in my garden. Pictures taken during February 2023.

Imo whatever these plants truely are, if they turn out like those plants spotted via google earth in Morocco, I am ready ro replace the rest of my palm collection!

 

Edited May 26, 2023 by Phoenikakias

[Alberto]

Thanks for your pictures and comments.