The Guadalupe palm (Brahea edulis), or Guadalupe palm, is a species of palm belonging to the Arecaceae family. Its name is due to its origin, being endemic to the Island of Guadalupe, in Baja California, the Mexican peninsula. It is used as an ornamental plant outdoors
Brahea edulis it is a perennial palm whose trunk reaches 12 m high and up to 4 m in diameter. Its columnar trunk thickens at its base. It has costa-palmated or fan-shaped leaves, which are green on both sides, can measure up to 2 m in diameter, and contain many veins.
The inflorescences are formed in clusters of three and have a yellowish color. It differs from other palms because the flower cluster is shorter than the leaves and can go unnoticed. The flowers produce black edible drupe-like fruits..
It is distributed in hot or cold areas because it supports up to 10-11 ° C below zero. It grows best in areas with little precipitation. Germination occurs between 3 and 4 months, and must be planted when young because this species develops a deep root system.
It is an endangered species because goats feed on them voraciously, removing all the leaves. In addition, rats and mice consume its fruits. Another condition that affects the survival of this palm is the consumption of its tender apical shoot, since the Guadalupe palm cannot produce lateral shoots..
Article index
It is a perennial arboreal species, with a height of 12 m by 4 m in diameter. It is a slow growing species. It has a single columnar trunk whose base is more thickened. The crown or cup is made up of about 20 large leaves.
The leaves are costa-palmadas (fan-shaped), green both on the upper side and on the underside. The hastula located in the beam is easily recognizable and penetrates the limbus about 20 cm, much more than as occurs in other species.
The leaves are up to 2 meters in diameter, have a divided apex, a long petiole of about 1.5 m. The leaves are marcescent, therefore, when they dry, they remain attached or bent next to the trunk
In addition, the leaves usually show about 70 - 80 segments, even more than 100. The petioles are devoid of spines, or have very few and are short in size..
The Guadalupe palm is a hermaphroditic species. In this case, the bisexual flowers grow in clusters of three, they are slightly yellowish in color..
The inflorescences are less spreading than the leaves, or are of the same length and can go unnoticed. Flowering occurs in summer.
The fruit is drupe type, measures about 35 mm in diameter, and its color is black. The fruits are loaded with abundant and edible fruits.
The common name of this palm is due to the endemism that it represents on Guadalupe Island, in Baja California, Mexican peninsula.
-Kingdom: Plantae
-Phylum: Tracheophyta
-Class: Liliopsida
-Order: Arecales
-Family: Arecaceae
-Gender: Brahea
-Species: Brahea edulis
The palm tree of Guadalupe is also known as Erythea edulis.
It generally inhabits limestone soils and dry forests. It is achieved in lands with good drainage, any type of soil, even in which the content of nutrients is very low.
This palm is distributed in southwestern North America and in Mexico. On the Island of Guadalupe it grows naturally on hills or rocky slopes, whose vegetation is semi-desert. It grows from 0 to 1000 meters above sea level.
It supports up to 10-11 ° C below zero, so its habitat is usually located in warm or cold areas. Also, it grows best in areas with little precipitation..
Currently, this palm is in danger of extinction and is reported on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2011). Palm trees that survive are adult individuals that are out of reach of goats.
The fruit is edible both raw and cooked, consuming the sweet pulp it contains. The tender apical shoot is cooked and used as a vegetable.
The harvest in nature is used for food for the locals.
Another use of the Guadalupe palm is as an outdoor ornamental, since they are highly valued aesthetically from their youth phase. It is unknown if this palm has medicinal use.
It adapts to any type of soil (dry or wet), with a pH from acidic to alkaline. However, in a fertile soil with good drainage your establishment is assured.
Regarding the light conditions, it is ideal to put it in a position a little protected from the sun, that is, in semi-sun conditions. However, from its youthful state it can withstand direct exposure to the sun..
Waterlogging conditions should be avoided as this palm is susceptible to attack by Phytophthora sp.
It is a species that tolerates a few degrees below zero during frost, while growing in a dry and sunny climate.
Guadeloupe palm seeds ripen in warm conditions (not less than 24 ° C), usually in a greenhouse.
These fresh seeds germinate in 3 or 4 months at approximately 25 ° C. Whereas, the stored seed loses viability and is much slower to germinate..
The Guadalupe palm has a penetrating root system, so transplantation must be carried out when the individual is young to ensure its establishment..
To do this, before sowing the seed must be hydrated for 24 hours in warm water and, in this way, reduce germination time..
For their part, adult individuals better resist cold or temperature changes. For this reason, young plants should remain in pot conditions for a few years in places where the climate is around the limit of tolerance to cold..
2-3 seeds should be sown in deep pots. After germination, the plants must be kept for at least three winters in greenhouse conditions..
Yet No Comments