Difference between revisions of "Syagrus amara"

Revision as of 11:01, 29 October 2014

Pronunciation: sigh-AHG-russ uh-MAR-uh

Common Name: Overtop Palm

Syagrus amara is the only Syagrus from the Caribbean Islands and is a bit tropical in its requirements as well. However many have managed to grow this one to maturity in the warmer areas of California. Does particularly if grown against a warm wall facing south. It has plumose leaves like most Syagrus, but leaflets are shorter and don't tend to droop. Potentially a very large palm, but that potential has so far not been realized in California.

Appearance and Biology

Habit: solitary with a crown of 10-14 pinnate leaves
Height: 30' (estimate)
Trunk: single; 8" thick; ringed; pale whitish to light grey; self cleaning
Crownshaft: none
Spread: 10'-14'
Leaf Description: pinnate; moderately plumose with relatively wide leaflets on two different planes not that askew from each other; dark green; 6'-8' long; upright rarely more horizontal than 45 degrees
Petiole/Leaf bases: wide; 1' long; dark green to bright green and covered with whitish patina (worn off at ventral midrib); unarmed and un-split- not retained on trunk
Reproduction: monoecious
Inflorescence: 1' long, upright from within crown; sheltered by grey-brown ovoid bract; moderately branched
Fruit: ovoid; 2" long dark green to orange when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 31F
Drought Tolerance: low
Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
Wind Tolerance: poor to moderate
Salt Tolerance: moderate
Growth Rate: moderate
Soil Preference: adaptable
Light Requirement: partial to full sun
Human Hazards: none
Disease or Horticultural Problems: marginal palm
Transplants?: unknown
Indoor?: unknown
Availability: rare but available through speciality growers in other states

Hawaii, University of Hilo
University of Hilo
Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii
juvenile in Hawaii
juvenile in Huntington Beach, California
fruits
infructesence in Hawaii
seeds

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 File:Syagrus amara young K.jpg|juvenile in Huntington Beach, California
 File:Syagrus amara seed.jpg|fruits
-File:Syagrus amara seed opening.jpg|inflorescence in Hawaii
+File:Syagrus amara seed opening.jpg|infructesence in Hawaii
 File:Syagrus amara seeds.jpg|seeds
 </gallery>
 [[Category: Syagrus]]

Difference between revisions of "Syagrus amara"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Revision as of 11:01, 29 October 2014