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Acanthophoenix crinita - Black Palm


Acanthophoenix crinita - Black Palm (Acanthophoenix crinita - Black Palm)

This extremely rare palm is located at the San Diego Zoo. The trunk and fronds are covered with spines. It is a very threatened palm in its native Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean just east of Madagascar. Luckily, the San Diego Zoo has 2 of these beautiful spiny palms. : > )



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How rare? extinct rare? and is there a reason why ? just out of interest...

31 Mar, 2010

 

Mushybanna:

It's almost extinct in habitat. Because of deforestation many of the flora on Reunion Island are almost extinct in habitat. Luckily many of the species have been brought into cultivation for preservation. However, Black Palm is not easy to germinate from what I've read...and it's very rare in cultivation here. I only know of one palm nursery in San Diego County which sells this palm...I'm sure the owner would want an arm and leg and maybe another arm for one! LOL!!! : >)

31 Mar, 2010

 

Good to know the zoo is looking after rare trees as well as rare creatures !

31 Mar, 2010

 

Terratoonie:

Yes, the San Diego Zoo is all about the preservation of fauna and flora.

31 Mar, 2010

 

I wonder why endangered plants and palms aren't tissue cultured by the millions like orchids or even Aloe's?

11 Nov, 2014

 

Not sure how easily tissue culture is done on some trees.

11 Nov, 2014

 

When Foxtails went from rare to everywhere so fast- was that only from seed?
Something to post on palm gardening boards.

12 Nov, 2014

 

Yes, there was a huge influx of seed from Australia. There's actually a lot in the older Palm Journals that people were cutting down the trees to get some of the seed (and this was in the protected park in Australia). Now, there's many large seed-bearing trees throughout the tropics.

13 Nov, 2014



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This photo is of species Acanthophoenix crinita - Black Palm.

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