Coccothrinax miraguama
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Coccothrinax miraguama habit. Photograph courtesy of Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Guide to Palms http://palmguide.org/index.php |
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Coccothrinax miraguama fibrous leaf bases covering stem |
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Coccothrinax miraguama leaf blade upper surface with hastula |
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Coccothrinax miraguama immature fruit |
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Coccothrinax miraguama ripening fruit |
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Coccothrinax miraguama leaflet enlarged to show silvery underside (with mm scale) |
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Coccothrinax miraguama leaflet enlarged upper surface (with mm scale) |
Common name
yuraguana, miraguama Palm
Description
Stems: Solitary, erect stems, to 15 m tall (usually shorter in cultivation), up to 12 cm in diameter. Old leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
bases cover the stems in a dense layer of thick (0.5 - 2mm) fibers or the slender stem may be smooth or faintly ringed by leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
scars. Leaves: Palmatepalmate:
like the palm of a hand; fan palms have palmate leaves that are usually divided into leaf segments arising from a central point, although a fan palm may have entire leaves (e.g., <em>Licuala grandis</em>)
, induplicateinduplicate:
Most palm leaflets or leaf segments are obviously folded. If the folds create a V-shape, with the midrib lower than the margins (so that rain might fall "into a valley"), the folding is induplicate.
, with a full to one-third circular blade (about 1.5 m across) divided about half its length by numerous, narrow, rigid segments that split at the tips. Leaflets become narrower toward the tip, with an abrupt transition. The upper leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
surface is bright green; the undersurface, green or silver-gray; transverse veinlets are not obvious. The fibrous leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
sheath has two or three layers, and the unarmed petiole is not split at the base. Flowers and fruits: Inflorescence inflorescence:
the reproductive structure of a flowering plant, including palms, consisting of flowers and associated bracts
arches above the leaves, to 1.5 m long, branched to two orders with up to 4 primary branches. The yellow flowers have both male and female parts. The fruits are spherical (5-12 mm in diameter) and purplish-black or pinkish-purple when ripe.
Diagnostic features
Field: Solitary, erect stems up to 12 cm in diameter. Old leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
bases cover the stems in 2-3 dense layers of thick (0.5 - 2mm) fibers. The leaves are more or less rigid, without drooping tips.
May be confused with
Thrinax species, but the petioles of Thrinax palms split at the base while those of Coccothrinax do not.
Distribution
Native to Cuba and Hispaniola
Additional comments
This is a variable species that has been divided into a number of subspecies or geographical forms.
Scientific name
Coccothrinax miraguama (Kunth) Becc.
Family
Arecaceae/Palmae
Synonyms
Coccothrinax alexandri Leon
Coccothrinax elegans Muorhidi
Corypha miraguama Kunth
Thrinax miraguama (Kunth) Mart.
Below: subspecies names often encountered
Coccothrinax miraguama (Kunth) León ssp. arenicola (Leon) Borhidi & Muñiz
Coccothrinax miraguama (Kunth) Becc. ssp. havanensis (Leon) Borhidiet & Muñiz
Coccothrinax miraguama (Kunth) Becc. ssp. roseocarpa (Leon) Borhidi & Muñiz
