Chamaerops and Washingtonia seed questions

[NMPalmjunky]

I picked up some Chamaerops and some Washingtonia seeds from Encanto Park in Phoenix which has possibly the greatest concentration of palms anywhere in Arizona. Can someone tell me if all seeds look viable? The med seeds are all the same size, but they vary in color from red to purple to blue. The Washingtonia seeds are also the same size, but some are blue and some are tan. I assume that the tan seeds are sterile, but please let me know if they could still be sprouted. 

[Fusca]

47 minutes ago, NMPalmjunky said:

I picked up some Chamaerops and some Washingtonia seeds from Encanto Park in Phoenix which has possibly the greatest concentration of palms anywhere in Arizona. Can someone tell me if all seeds look viable? The med seeds are all the same size, but they vary in color from red to purple to blue. The Washingtonia seeds are also the same size, but some are blue and some are tan. I assume that the tan seeds are sterile, but please let me know if they could still be sprouted. 

The fruits are different colors because they're at different stages of ripeness.  The tan colored Washingtonia are probably the oldest (maybe from a previous flowering) but Washingtonia seeds are viable for several years.  The seeds should all be viable unless they have some damage from palm seed beetles.  Chamaerops humilis can be self fertile but there's a possibility that the female flowers weren't pollinated.  There's no way to tell unless you cut into one to see an embryo.  Once all of the fruit is removed and you soak the seeds they should sink in water if they're viable.  Best of luck germinating - they're both pretty easy. 

[ABQPalms]

Yes, I was just thinking of telling you to put them in a cup of water to see if they sink or float. First you'll need to peel the outer flesh on the ones that have them still and rinse them off (Some of them might be sticky still). Most Washingtonia seeds are quick to germinate. I find it that Filifera is the fastest in my experience. Encanto Park has a lot of Robustas so there's more of a chance you have pure Robusta or Robusta dominant Hybrid seeds. If you collected the seeds beneath a thick Filifera than there's a good chance of getting a specimen with string Filifera traits. As far as Mediterranean Fans, it is really hit and miss like mentioned as to if they're pollinated or not. But there are quite a bit of pollinators (birds and bees ect.) in the park that chances are better. 

[SeanK]

You could a picked up some Brahea seeds as well over in Phoenix.

[NMPalmjunky]

@Fusca and @ABQPalms thank you both for your help. @SeanK Encanto park is in the historic area of central Phoenix that dates back 70 or 80 years. Despite having so many large palms in sheer volume, they didn’t experiment much outside of the common palms. No Brahma seeds, and I passed on the CDP seeds because I feel that those need to be planted with some mass here at 35 degrees North latitude. It was a quick work trip so I didn’t get a chance to get seeds anywhere else, but I’ll be back next month.

[NMPalmjunky]

Here are pictures of the mother and Encanto Park.

[ABQPalms]

Those are nice Filiferas! And a nice shot of a palm paradise! I've been to Encanto Park a few times while living there taking the kids to the little amusement park there and getting a workout, riding the paddle boats on the lake.