Coccothrinax argentea

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Coccothrinax argentea

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Scientific Classification

Genus:	Coccothrinax
Species:	argentea

Synonyms

None set.

Native Continent

America

Morphology

Habit:	Solitary
Leaf type:	Costapalmate

Culture

Survivability index

Common names

Hispaniola Silver Thatch Palm, Cana, Guano, Latanye marron, Latanye savanne, Broom palm, Hispaniolan silver palm, Silver thatch palm, Palmera plateada de La Hispaniola, Guanito, Guano de escoba.

Habitat and Distribution

Hispaniola, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. In its native range, it is found in open areas, or pine woodland on rocky calcareous soils, and also frequently in disturbed areas, where it spreads freely.

Description

Solitary, or rarely clustered, slender, smooth trunk to 10 m (33 ft.) tall. Its circular fan-shaped leaves, are dark green above, and beautifully silvery below, with an 8" diameter trunk, covered in a woven thatch of fibers. Fan leaves are 5 feet wide, and form a beautiful circular shape, with the leaflet segments being divided almost all the way to the hastula. Leaflets are rigid when young, and only slightly pendent when older, the undersides showing a silver coating.

Culture

Requires full sun, and a well drained soil. Does not mind drying out between waterings, once established. It adapts readily to cultivation in warm temperate, and tropical areas, and can take some coastal exposure. Prefers alkaline soil.

Curiosities

Very young leaves are eaten as a vegetable. It is also used medicinally, by traditional healers to treat uterine fibroids, and hot flashes. This species is frequently confused with Coccothrinax argentata