Differentiating between Phoenix sylvestris and Phoenix dactylifera

[Farid Belbachir]

Dear all. 

Hope this finds you well. I am puzzled about the morphological differentiation between Phoenix sylvestris and Phoenix dactylifera. Here in Algeria, I am used with the latter species, but not at all with P. sylvestris. In the literature, the morphological caracteristics used to distinguish between the two species are not sharp. I do not know if a similar request has already been adressed in this forum.  Any help on this will be greatly appreciated. 

 

 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

I can’t provide you a very scientific answer. But in my experience P. dact is generally a much darker green in terms of fronds/leaflets, or occasionally a beautiful waxy blue green. True date fruits tend to be larger and thicker as well. And overall the fronds seem more rigid, though this is highly variable.

As for sylvester’s, their definitive species characteristics are a mess now since they are so prone to hybridization. But they tend to be a lighter shade of green and often have more curved fronds. 
 

 

[Phoenikakias]

Salam alaikum, sylvestris is always solitary, dactylifera is almost always suckering. Besides ratio of petiole's to entire leaf's length in sylvestris is 1/10  while in dactylifera is about 1/5. In other words petiole in sylvestris multiplied 10 times makes out entire leaf, while in dactylifera this is achieved through a multiplication by 5.

[TropicsEnjoyer]

1 hour ago, Phoenikakias said:

Salam alaikum, sylvestris is always solitary, dactylifera is almost always suckering. Besides ratio of petiole's to entire leaf's length in sylvestris is 1/10  while in dactylifera is about 1/5. In other words petiole in sylvestris multiplied 10 times makes out entire leaf, while in dactylifera this is achieved through a multiplication by 5.

can’t believe i forgot the textbook difference of nonsuckering and suckering. and the petiole fact… i learned something new today too