Brahea edulis

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Brahea (brah-HEH-ah)
edulis (eh-DOO-liss)
Brahea edulis FA.jpg
Fullerton Arboretum, Orange County California.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Brahea (brah-HEH-ah)
Species:
edulis (eh-DOO-liss)
Synonyms
Erythaea edulis
Native Continent
America
America.gif
Morphology
Habit: Solitary
Leaf type: Palmately compound
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Guadalupe palm, Guadalupe Fan Palm

Habitat and Distribution

Brahea edulis is endemic to the Mexican Pacific Is. Dry woodlands, usually in limestone deposits. Native Range: Native to Guadalupe Island off of the Western coast of Mexico. The Guadalupe Island Palm is now grown worldwide as an ornamental.

Huntington Gardens, California.

Description

Hight: 12 m. Spread: 4 m. Growth rate: Slow. It is hardy, thru zone 9. Flowers: monoecious ( both male and female ). The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires fast draining soil, and will grow in nutritionally poor soil. This Palm, prefers acid, neutral, and basic (alkaline) soils. It will not grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil. Although, there have been no reports of edibility, the fruit is almost certainly edible either raw or cooked[K]. It is about 35mm in diameter. Succeeds in most fertile moist but well-drained soils in a sheltered sunny position. Tolerant of poor dry soils. This species, tolerates several degrees of frost, if it is growing in a dry sunny climate. Editing by edric.

Culture

Trees are quite wind and salt hardy. They thrive in drier subtropical conditions and don't do as well with constant humidity. Grow in almost any soil type, water is need infrequently, and once extablished, the plants need little or no care. Propagation: By seeds, which take 3-6 months to germinate.

Comments and Curiosities

External Links

References

Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.

Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.

Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).


Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.

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