Brahea armata
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Brahea armata young palm in landscape |
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Brahea armata mature palm in landscape (with multiple inflorescences) |
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Brahea armata mature palm in landscape with marcescent leaves |
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Brahea armata stem of young palm (close view) |
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Brahea armata stem of mature palm (close view) |
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Brahea armata fibers of leaf sheath and marginal teeth along petiole |
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Brahea armata abaxial leaf costa and marginal teeth on petiole |
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Brahea armata adaxial hastula and marginal teeth on petiole. Photograph courtesy of Mariana P. Beckman, DPI |
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Brahea armata mature palm leaf and flowers |
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Brahea armata flowers |
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Brahea armata mature palm with fruit |
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Brahea armata immature yellow fruit |
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Brahea armata seed. Photograph courtesy of Mariana P. Beckman, DPI |
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Brahea armata wooly hairs and marginal teeth on petiole of young palm |
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Brahea armata wooly hairs and marginal teeth on petiole (mm scale) |
Common name
blue hesper palm
Description
Stems: Solitary, erect, to 15 m in height and 45 cm in diameter and somewhat swollen at the base. Old leaves or leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
bases may cover the stem, but with age, it becomes bare with rings of leafleaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
scars. Leaves: Costapalmatecostapalmate:
a fan-shaped leaf with a midrib (costa) extending into the blade, sometimes extending far enough into the blade to cause it to curve (e.g., <em>Sabal palmetto</em>)
, induplicateinduplicate:
Most palm leaflets or leaf segments are obviously folded. If the folds create a V-shape, with the midrib lower than the margins (so that rain might fall "into a valley"), the folding is induplicate.
, icy-blue or blue-green, up to 2.5 m across, and divided to about the midpoint into stiff segments with bifidbifid:
deeply cleft into two usually equal parts or two-lobed from the apex; for example, palms with bifid leaves or leaflet tips (e.g., <em>Chamaedorea metallica</em> has bifid leaves)
tips. The petioles are armed with robust marginal teeth and covered with wooly hairs. Flowers and fruit: The spectacular inflorescences are up to 5 m long and hang downward from among the leaves. Flowers are hermaphroditic, with yellow petals. Fruit oblong to spherical, about 2 cm across, and brown to black when mature.
Diagnostic features
Field: A robust, solitary palm with slight swelling at the base of the stem, icy-blue to blue-green leaves, and irregular teeth along the petiole margins
Lab: Black to brown floccosefloccose:
having tufts of soft, uneven hairs (e.g., <em>Bismarckia nobilis</em> leaves)
indumentum
May be confused with
Washingtonia sp. are somewhat similar and grow in many of the same locations, but Washingtonia palms are grassy green, not blue or silvery. Brahea brandegeei could be confused with B. armata, but its leaves are green on the upper surface.
Distribution
Native to sandy or rocky soils in desert of northwestern Mexico
Additional comments
Often planted in California and other hot, dry regions of the southwestern United States
Scientific name
Brahea armata S.Watson
Family
Arecaceae/Palmae
Synonyms
Brahea clara (L.H.Bailey) Espejo & López-Ferrari
Brahea roezlii Linden
Erythea armata (S.Watson) Watson
Erythea clara L.H.Bailey
Erythea elegans Franceschi ex Becc.
Erythea roezlii (Linden) L.H.Bailey
Glaucothea armata (S.Watson) O.F.Cook
Glaucothea elegans (Franceschi ex Becc.) Johnston
