Chamaerops

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Chamaerops humilis
Chamaerops humilis var. humilis, Zingaro, Sicily
Chamaerops humilis var. humilis, Zingaro, Sicily
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Tribe: Corypheae
Genus: Chamaerops L.
Species: C. humilis
Binomial name
Chamaerops humilis
L.

Chamaerops is a genus of flowering plants in the family Arecaceae (palm family), comprising a single species Chamaerops humilis (European Fan Palm or Mediterranean Fan Palm). It is native to the western Mediterranean region, in southwestern Europe (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Malta) and northwest Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia).[1][2]

Chamaerops humilis var. argentea, south slopes of the High Atlas, Morocco
Chamaerops humilis var. argentea, south slopes of the High Atlas, Morocco

It is a shrub-like clumping palm, with several stems growing from a single base. The stems grow slowly and often tightly together, eventually reaching 2-5 m tall with a trunk diameter of 20-25 cm. It is a fan palm (Arecaceae tribe Corypheae), with the leaves with a long petiole terminating in a rounded fan of 10-20 leaflets; each leaf is up to 1-1.5 m long, with the leaflets 50-80 cm long. It also has numerous sharp needle-like spines produced on the leaf stems; these protect the stem growing point from browsing animals. The flowers are borne in dense, short clusters at the top of the stems; it is usually (but not invariably) dioecious with male and female flowers on separate plants. The fruit is a brown drupe 1-2 cm long.[3][4]

It is the northernmost naturally occurring palm in the world, with the northernmost localities at Hyères-les-Palmiers, on the Mediterranean coast of southern France, at 43° 07' N,[5] and on the island of Capraia off the Italian coast, at 43° 04' N.

There are two varieties:[1]

  • Chamaerops humilis var. humilis. Southwest Europe. Leaves green.
  • Chamaerops humilis var. argentea André (syn. var. cerifera). Northwest Africa. Leaves glaucous.

It is closely related to the genus Trachycarpus from Asia, differing in clumping habit (Trachycarpus only forms single stems without basal suckers), the spiny leaf stems (spineless in Trachycarpus), and in small details of the flower anatomy.[3]

[edit] Ecology

It is adapted to a Mediterranean climate with cool, moist winters and summer drought, and typically grows on dry hill slopes. It is one of the hardier palms, tolerating winter frosts down to about −12°C,[6] though it does require hot summers for good growth.

In some areas, including its northernmost native location, it is seriously threatened by an introduced South American moth Paysandisia archon.[5][7]

It is often grown as an ornamental plant in southern Europe.

The Mediterranean Fan Palm is also suitable for growing in many locations within the United States. Here is an example of one growing well in Athens, Georgia: Athens,GA USA Med. Fan Palm.

[edit] External links


[edit] References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
  1. ^ a b Kew Checklist of Palms: Chamaerops
  2. ^ Euro+Med Plantbase Project: Chamaerops humilis
  3. ^ a b Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
  4. ^ Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
  5. ^ a b Parcs Nationaux de France: Hyères-les-(ex)-Palmiers
  6. ^ Dossiers-Jardin: Les palmiers résistants au froid
  7. ^ International Palm Society: Importation of Mature Palms: A Threat to Native and Exotic Palms in Mediterranean Countries?

Flowers

Mature fruit

Mature fruit, close-up

Chamaerops humilis var. argentea, south slopes of the High Atlas, Morocco