Mexican blue palm facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mexican blue palm
In habitat
Scientific classification
Genus:	Brahea
Species:	armata
Synonyms
Brahea armata var. microcarpa Becc. Brahea clara (L.H.Bailey) Espejo & López-Ferr. Brahea elegans (Franceschi ex Becc.) H.E.Moore Brahea glauca Hook.f. Brahea lucida Hook.f. Brahea nobilis Hook.f. Brahea roezlii Linden Erythea armata (S.Watson) S.Watson Erythea armata var. microcarpa Becc. Erythea clara L.H.Bailey Erythea elegans Franceschi ex Becc. Erythea roezlii (Linden) Becc. ex Martelli Glaucothea armata (S.Watson) O.F.Cook Glaucothea elegans (Franceschi ex Becc.) I.M.Johnst.

Brahea armata, commonly known as Mexican blue palm or blue hesper palm, is a large evergreen tree of the palm family Arecaceae, endemic to Baja California, Mexico. It is widely planted as an ornamental.

Description

It grows to a height of 15 metres (49 ft), with a stout trunk. Its distinctly bluish leaves are 1–2 metres (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) wide, with 1-metre (3 ft 3 in) long petioles. The leaves are persistent in nature, forming a shag around the trunk; in cultivation they are typically burned or cut off. The inflorescences extend out beyond the crown, reaching 5 metres (16 ft) in length. The flowers themselves are small, appearing in February and March, while the fruits are 18–24 millimetres (0.71–0.94 in) in length, brown and with a generally ovoid to globose shape.

Distribution and habitat

In habitat, Baja California, Mexico

Plants growing in habitat

This species is endemic to the Mexican state of Baja California, distributed from just south of the international border near the Jacumba Mountains to the Central Desert and Isla Angel de la Guarda. Plants growing in the Sierra de San Francisco in Baja California Sur may be of a different species. It is locally common in arroyos and canyon bottoms, and has been observed growing in rock crevices at higher elevations. It is sometimes found with Washingtonia filifera or Washingtonia robusta.

Uses

Brahea armata has an attractive appearance, especially when young, and is commonly available at nurseries in the American southwest and in warm temperate locations elsewhere. In the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It is drought tolerant (although occasional deep irrigation is recommended), can handle both partial shade and full sun, and temperatures down to −10 °C (14 °F). It is found under a variety of names, including "Mexican blue palm", "blue hesper palm", "big blue hesper palm", "blue fan palm", "sweet brahea", and "palma blanca".

The Cocopah people ate the seeds after roasting them.

• Cultivated plants
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  Mature pair of Brahea armata, Phoenix AZ

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  Brahea armata setting seed

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  Group planting of Brahea armata, Phoenix, AZ

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  Juvenile pair of Brahea armata

See also

In Spanish: Brahea armata para niños