Hi, guys. I haven't been on this thread for a while as I stay pretty close to the orchid forum but this is special. Our Master Gardener group was treated to a tour of the Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum in St. Petersburg yesterday and I wanted to share the photos I took. Some of the name tags were missing so I am taking my best shot at a few of them. I hope you enjoy the tour.
Jim
No sign but I think this is a Beccariophoenix alfredii:
No tag on this beauty but I'm pretty sure this is Copernicia bayleana:
Well, look what I found. Ganoderma root rot on a Phoenix canariensis means certain death for the palm.
No sign again but this is fruit on what I believe is a Hyphaene coriacea. Yes, it is edible. What a massive palm this Gebang is.
I hope you enjoyed the tour. Here is the group.
Jim
"Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it." -- Steven Leacock
I'm a bit disappointed to see that they would allow that ganoderma to stay around; it spreads easily. They could lose a lot of palms if they don't control it.
Hetty, I don't think they knew it was there until I pointed it out. Once they saw it they were concerned and I have confidence they will deal with it. It was a large palm and they will need some heavy equipment to get it out of there.
Jim
"Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it." -- Steven Leacock
I was not aware of what ganoderma was, thank you for showing us what it looks like. According to Wiki, while it is death sentence for trees, it has value in medical research and for things like bioremediation.
Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.
I receive calls at the Extension Service asking about sick or dying palms. One of the first questions I ask is if the trunk has mushrooms growing on it. If it does, they should remove the plant quickly and avoid planting other palms in that spot. As far as I know, there is no cure for this nasty fungus.
Jim
"Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it." -- Steven Leacock
Does the Ganoderma only grow on diseased or dying palms? Typically when I see fungi growing on trees, those trees are already well into decline.
That is quite an array of palms, Jim. We have a few here in Starkville, but typically, when we have a harsh winter, most will be lost. That doesn't keep people from planting them, hoping that Mother Nature won't take them from them. Monday morning will be 17F here. There will be some palms that will say "Adios".
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)
The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
Ganoderma can take down a healthy tree. We had to remove a large Phoenix Palm at the Botanical Garden recently. It was one of a 'Palm Allee' so it was hard to do, since (as you say, Jim) you can't plant another one in its spot.
Name: Elaine Sarasota, Fl The one constant in life is change
What a great group, and nice tour you had, Jim. Well done on all the pictures, including the name signs.
That Carpoxylon Macrospermum certainly is lovely, but if you read the sign no wonder it's not for sale anywhere. It says way at the bottom "thought to be extinct, rare in cultivation" and also since it is a native to Vanuatu (near Tahiti, isn't it?) probably not exactly a hardy species. I'll bet there are some in that collection that they need to protect from the cold - although St. Pete is a bit warmer due to being surrounded by water.
Elaine
"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Wow!! I was wondering where to post my palm question, but after seeing this, it looks like all the palm peeps are here. So, not to steal your thunder, hawkarica, I'd like to know what the name of this palm is that was at our Puerta Vallarta resort where we spent last week. (hard to come home to single digit temps on Monday, let me tell ya...........LOL).
I didn't see any in your pix that looked like it, so maybe someone has an idea of its name?
Name: Elaine Sarasota, Fl The one constant in life is change
Here it is, Anna. These grow here in FL as well, although they are somewhat more frost tender than other palms, and lately have been subject to a particularly voracious palm weevil that kills them very quickly.
Thanks. I've seen them in Mexico all over and think they are so cool. Too bad they are not suited for pots, or I suppose I'd just HAVE to have one...............
What a massive palm this Gebang is.
