Washingtonia is now monotypic, bye bye "W. robusta" and "x filibusta"

[idontknowhatnametuse]

The new thing is:

Washingtonia filifera var. Filifera

Washingtonia filifera var. Robusta

Washingtonia filifera var. Sonorae

 

[kinzyjr]

It looks like the WFO Plant List is updated in this manner:

• Washingtonia filifera var. filifera: https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-0000333904-2025-12
• Washingtonia filifera var. robusta: https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-0000333906-2025-12
• Washingtonia filifera var. sonorae: https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-0000801443-2025-12

The hybrid doesn't seem to be placed just yet: 

[ChrisA]

Thanks for posting!  

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Despite the obvious morphological differences was the DNA not glaringly different enough to divide robusta and filifera into two species? I’m not sure how much this changes in practicality but cool to know I guess.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

16 minutes ago, TropicsEnjoyer said:

Despite the obvious morphological differences was the DNA not glaringly different enough to divide robusta and filifera into two species? I’m not sure how much this changes in practicality but cool to know I guess.

They just randomly did this. To my knowledge, they did no article to support the reasons for this transition like it was done for the transition of Dypsis > Chrysalidocarpus, Vonitra and Dypsis.

[tim_brissy_13]

3 hours ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

They just randomly did this. To my knowledge, they did no article to support the reasons for this transition like it was done for the transition of Dypsis > Chrysalidocarpus, Vonitra and Dypsis.

They wouldn’t make a call like this at random. The below probably explains a few of the questions above. 
 

https://academic.oup.com/botlinnean/article/196/4/506/6160486

[tarnado]

20 hours ago, TropicsEnjoyer said:

the DNA not glaringly different enough to divide robusta and filifera into two specie

 

20 hours ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

They just randomly did this.

Published March of 2021 - basically:

'We found a very gradual genetic gradient north-to-south among populations of wild Washingtonia... physical differences between palms identified 'filifera' or 'robusta' showed no genetic distinction between groups.' It's a really cool article but some of it was beyond my ken. https://academic.oup.com/botlinnean/article/196/4/506/6160486?login=true

[Fusca]

I prefer the synonym "Pritchardia robusta" myself - it'd be one Pritchardia that I could grow here!

[Josue Diaz]

1 hour ago, Fusca said:

I prefer the synonym "Pritchardia robusta" myself - it'd be one Pritchardia that I could grow here!

Lol

[Eric in Orlando]

So is Washingtonia filifera var. sonorae in cultivation? How is it different from var. robusta ?

[Phoenikakias]

1 hour ago, Eric in Orlando said:

So is Washingtonia filifera var. sonorae in cultivation? How is it different from var. robusta ?

Same question...

[idontknowhatnametuse]

2 hours ago, Eric in Orlando said:

So is Washingtonia filifera var. sonorae in cultivation? How is it different from var. robusta ?

Not sure, I can't seem to find information about it.

[tropicbreeze]

Kew accepted this publication for making the change:
https://academic.oup.com/botlinnean/article/196/4/506/6160486

That'll provide the basis for the decision.

The taxonomists like to make it look like they're busy. Not long back they shoved Ptychosperma macarthurii into P propinquum.

[kinzyjr]

I'd still like to have a mature Washintonia filifera var. filifera here.  Working on it...