''Phoenix roebelenii'', with common names of dwarf date palm, pygmy date palm, miniature date palm or robellini palm, is a
species of
date palm
''Phoenix dactylifera'', commonly known as date or date palm, is a flowering plant species in the palm family, Arecaceae, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit called dates. The species is widely cultivated across northern Africa, the Middle Eas ...
native to southeastern Asia, from southwestern China (
Yunnan Province), northern
Laos
Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...
and northern
Vietnam, (in Dien Bien Province, Ha Giang Province, Cao Bang Province, Lang Son Province).
[WCSP, World Checklist of Arecaceae]
''Phoenix roebelenii''
/ref>specific epithet
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
''roebelenii'' honours the orchid collector Carl Roebelen Carl may refer to:
* Carl, Georgia, city in USA
* Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
*Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name
* Carl², a TV series
* "Carl", an episode of ...
(1855–1927).
Description
''Phoenix roebelenii'' is a small to medium-sized, slow-growing slender tree growing to tall. The leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
are long, pinnate, with around 100 leaflets arranged in a single plane (unlike the related '' P. loureiroi'' where the leaflets are in two planes). Each leaflet is long and 1 cm wide, slightly drooping, and grey-green in colour with scurfy pubescence below.
The flowers are small, yellowish, produced on a inflorescence. The fruit is an edible 1 cm drupe
In botany, a drupe (or stone fruit) is an indehiscent fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp, or skin, and mesocarp, or flesh) surrounds a single shell (the ''pit'', ''stone'', or '' pyrena'') of hardened endocarp with a seed (''kernel'') ...
resembling a small, thin-fleshed date.[Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan .]
This Palm produces strong, spiny thorns approx. 2-4" in length. The size of the thorns depends on the age of the tree. These thorns are located on the Palm Leaf stem close to the truck and can may extend 6-12" from the trunk. The thorns are very sharp and easily penetrate the skin. They are poisonous and can cause irritation, skin infection, bruising and can be severe. They can also cause an allergic reaction. These reactions differentiate on the exposure.
Cultivation and uses
''Phoenix roebelenii'' is a popular ornamental plant in gardens in tropical and subtropical climate areas. With a minimum temperature requirement of it is grown under glass or as a houseplant in cooler areas.Award of Garden Merit
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions.
History
The Award of Garden Merit ...
.
Gallery
Image:Roebeleniiinflorescences.JPG, New inflorescences
Image:Phoenixroebeleniifruit.JPG, Fruit
Image:P.roebelenii.JPG, Male flowers
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q164113
roebelenii
Trees of China
Trees of Laos
Trees of Vietnam
Garden plants
Garden plants of Asia
House plants
Ornamental trees