Washingtonia robusta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Washingtonia robusta |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Mexican fan palms growing in Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Washingtonia
|
| Species: |
robusta
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Other Scientific Names
Brahea robusta Voss
Neowashingtonia robusta (H.Wendl.) A.Heller Neowashingtonia sonorae (S.Watson) Rose Pritchardia robusta (H.Wendl.) Schröt. Washingtonia filifera var. gracilis (Parish) L.D.Benson Washingtonia filifera var. robusta (H.Wendl.) Parish Washingtonia filifera var. sonorae (S.Watson) M.E.Jones Washingtonia gracilis Parish Washingtonia robusta var. gracilis (Parish) Parish ex Becc. Washingtonia sonorae S.Watson |
|
The Washingtonia robusta, often called the Mexican fan palm, Mexican washingtonia, or skyduster, is a type of palm tree. It naturally grows in the Baja California peninsula and a small part of Sonora in northwestern Mexico.
Even though it only grows naturally in a small area, the Mexican fan palm is one of the most popular subtropical palms grown around the world. You can find it growing wild in places like Florida, California, Hawaii, Texas, parts of the Canary Islands, France, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Spain, Réunion, and Morocco.
Contents
What Does the Mexican Fan Palm Look Like?
The Mexican fan palm can grow very tall, usually up to 25 meters (about 82 feet). Sometimes, it can even reach 30 meters (about 98 feet) high. Its leaves have a long stem, called a petiole, which can be up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) long.
The leaves themselves look like a large fan, also about 1 meter long. Be careful, though, because the leaf stems have sharp thorns! The tree also produces a long group of flowers, called an inflorescence, which can be up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) long. These flowers are small and have a pale orange-pink color.
After the flowers, the tree grows small, round, blue-black fruits. These fruits are about 6 to 8 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. They are safe to eat, but they don't have much flesh.
How Mexican Fan Palms Are Classified
The Mexican fan palm is one of only two species in the group (genus) called Washingtonia. The other species is its close relative, the Washingtonia filifera, also known as the California fan palm. The California fan palm grows more to the north.
Compared to the Mexican fan palm, the California fan palm has a thicker trunk. Its leaves are also a duller green color.
Different Names for the Palm
This palm tree has several names depending on the language:
- English: Mexican fan palm, Mexican washingtonia, skyduster
- Spanish: abanico, palma colorado, palma real, palma blanca, palma negra
- Seri: Zamij ctam
Where Mexican Fan Palms Grow Naturally
This palm tree originally comes from the Baja California peninsula and Sonora in Mexico. On the peninsula, you can find it from the Sierra de La Asamblea and the Baja California Desert down to the Vizcaino region and the Sierra de la Giganta. It also grows in the southern part of the peninsula.
In Sonora, it grows in canyons in the western part of the state. It is especially found in "palm oases" in the Sierra El Aguaje, north of Guaymas. It is not as common there as two other palm species, Brahea brandegeei and Sabal uresana.
Growing Mexican Fan Palms
Like its close relative, the Washingtonia filifera (California fan palm), the Mexican fan palm is often planted as an ornamental tree. This means people grow it because it looks nice.
Even though they look very similar, the Mexican fan palm has a narrower trunk. Its trunk is usually a bit wider at the bottom. It also grows a little faster and taller than the California fan palm. However, it doesn't handle cold weather as well. It can survive temperatures down to about -8 degrees Celsius (about 18 degrees Fahrenheit).
Scientists have studied these palms in their natural home in Baja California. They believe that Mexican fan palms can live for more than 500 years! Some very old palms in Los Angeles, California, that are still standing today were even seen in photographs from the 1800s.
The Mexican fan palm is commonly grown in the desert areas of the Southwestern United States. These areas include California, Arizona, southern Nevada, extreme southwestern Utah, and Texas. It is also planted in coastal areas of the South Atlantic states and the Gulf Coast. This includes southern North Carolina, coastal South Carolina, southern Georgia, and Florida. Along the Gulf Coast, you can find Mexican fan palms growing from Florida's west coast all the way to South Texas.
There is also a special palm called Washingtonia × filibusta. This palm is a hybrid, meaning it's a mix of the Mexican fan palm and the California fan palm. It has features from both parents, and it can handle wet and cold weather better than the Mexican fan palm alone.
Gallery
-
A flowering palm in Chandler, Arizona
-
The fruit cluster of the palm
-
The flower cluster of the palm
-
Palm Walk at Arizona State University
-
Mexican fan palms at Venice Beach, California
-
A Mexican fan palm growing in Saint Simons Island, Georgia.
-
Washingtonia robusta and Canary Island date palms often line streets in San Jose, California.
-
These palms line Santa Clara Street in San Jose, California
-
Some of the oldest palms in Los Angeles, planted around 1875
-
A Mexican fan palm tree in Enterprise, Alabama
See also
In Spanish: Palmera de abanico mexicana para niños
