Palms   Trithrinax schizophylla in Argentina

Description: Trithrinax schizophylla , called "carandilla" by local people, has green, grizzly, induplicate palmate leaves up to 1.2m long. The blade is fan-shaped to nearly circular and regulary divided beyond the middle into numerous single-fold with spiny leaf sheaths. This palm has thin and solitary (or sometimes clustering) trunks, between 7 - 12cm in diameter and 3 - 5m high covered by fibers. It has hard spines of 5 - 15cm in the growing point, dark brown spherical fruits when mature and their seeds germinate easily. Distribution & Habitat: The habitat is located in the north-west of the Province of Formosa and in the east of Salta Province, in the north of Argentina and this population represents the southern limits of the species. This palm grows in a hot climate, with temperatures of 45°C, in dry places, full sun, and tolerates frost.   T. schizophylla is very similar in appearance to T. biflabellata and the differences are the following: T. biflabellata T. schizophylla Local Name carandilla carandilla Trunk diameter among 5 - 7 cm among 7 - 10 cm Height 2 - 5 m 3 - 5 m Leaf Colour light green green grizzly Blade size 40 - 70 cm 50 - 80 cm Blade divided very deeply beyond the middle Petiole length 60-80 cm 30-50 cm Flower colour creamy-white creamy-white Hermafrodite yes yes Inflorescence interfoliar 20-30 cm long interfoliar, branched 50-60 cm long Contributed by: José Grassia and Alberto Ferrari (Text) For further information try Monocot Checklist Links