This palm resembles a common Queen unless you look closely and realize it's covered with long, viscious spines from top to bottom. Older...Read More specimens loose the spines off the trunk. This palm takes longer to germinate, unless optimal conditions, than about any other palm... germinating the seed for 5 years is not unusual. It is pretty sluggish as a seedling, until it gets some size, then it's fairly 'average', at least here in So Cal. This is a South American palm.
There used to be 5 species of this palm, but the 'lumpers' have decided all of them are just this one species... but some hold outs insist that Acrocomia totai and/or media are small enough that they should be considered separate species. Both grow equally well in southern California. If ever visiting Disneyland here, there is one near the park where the miniature race track is.
The flower has a strong, almost chemical smell that is evident up to 20 feet from the tree. In the Keys it has a very fast growth rate.
This palm will probably change to be in the Gastrococos family.
This palm resembles a common Queen unless you look closely and realize it's covered with long, viscious spines from top to bottom. Older...Read More