Coccothrinax boschiana

Photo by Paul Craft, edric.

Coccothrinax boschiana

Scientific Classification

Genus:	Coccothrinax
Species:	boschiana

Synonyms

None set.

Native Continent

America

Morphology

Habit:	Solitary
Leaf type:	Palmate

Culture

Survivability index

Common names

guano de Barreras, Barreras Silver Palm

Habitat and Distribution

Endemic to the Dominican Republic. Found in dry forests, in the dry peninsula of Barahona, 5 km. south of the small rural town of Barreras. This ridge of solid grey limestone, altitude of 5 to 200 m., on the Sierra Martín García ridge, in the Sierra de Neiba, on the Barahona peninsula only, in southwestern Dominican Republic.

Description

A robust solitary fan palm, to about 12m. (40 ft.) in height. Coccothrinax boschiana grows a slender trunk, densely clothed in hard, fibrous leaf sheaths. The leaves are very stiff and rigid,yellowish green to golden above, and stunningly silvery white below. Palmate-leaved; with heavy shiny leaves, that are golden above, and silver below. The trunk is covered in thick, woody fibres which form a striking rhomboid criss-cross pattern. It has pinkish-purple warty fruits.

Culture

In cultivation it will do well in any tropical and most warm temperate climates. Growth in the latter may be rather slow. One of the few bluish palms that will grow in the humid tropics. Zones 10b-11. Requires full sun, excellent drainage, and tropical temperatures. Drought and salt tolerant.