138 Desert Palm 



which have been supposed to be different from S. Palmetto, resemble it very closely; 

 Sabal Blackburniana, Glazebrook, endemic in Bermuda, and other species of 

 Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica are clearly different, however. 



IV. DESERT PALM 



GENUS NEOWASHINGTONIA SUDWORTH 



Species Neowashingtonia robnsta (Wendland) Britten 



Washingtonia robusta Wendland 



Neowashingtonia filametitosa Sudworth, not Washingtonia filamentosa Wendland 



HREE species of Desert Palms of this genus are known, natives of 

 southern California, Lower California, and western Sonora. They 

 are closely related to each other but appear to be different. They 

 have palmately cleft leaves, the margins of the leaf-segments sepa- 

 rating into drooping fibers, as in the Palmetto, which they were first taken to be 

 and which they resemble, but their leaf-stalks are armed with stout short spine- 

 like teeth. The genus is named in honor of George Washington, and was first 

 called Washingtonia, but inasmuch as other plants had previously been described 

 under this name, it has been modified into Neowashingtonia; the type of the genus 

 is Neowashingtonia filamentosa, from northern Lower California, a species which 

 does not stand cultivation as well as the one here described. 



Neowashingtonia robusta occurs in moist oases and canons in the desert regions 

 of southern California, occasionally forming large groves; its reddish brown trunk 

 sometimes becomes a meter in diameter and 25 meters high. The dark green 

 leaves are 2 meters in diameter or less, deeply cleft into numerous linear-lanceolate 

 segments, which are again cleft at the apex; their marginal fibers are usually nu- 

 merous; the leaf-stalk is as long as the blade or shorter, heavily armed with stout, 

 straight, and curved teeth sometimes 2 cm. long, and its base is much broadened; 

 when wilting the leaves hang down and remain thus attached to the plant for a 

 long period and in large numbers, giving it a curious and characteristic aspect. 

 The large stalked panicles of flowers arc axillary to the upper leaves and often 

 3 or 4 meters long; the fragrant flowers are perfect, borne on short, stout stalks; 

 the tubular calyx is slightly lobed, the corolla fuimelform, its tube about as long 

 as the 3 lanceolate lobes; the 6 stamens have separate filaments borne on the 

 corolla-tube; the ovary is 3-celled and 3-lobed, surmounted by 3 slender 

 styles. The edible fruit is a nearly spherical black drupe about 8 mm. long, with 

 thin, sweetish flesh enclosing the ovoid seed, which has a nearly flat base. 



This elegant palm is much planted for ornament in California and Florida 

 and has been introduced into southern Europe; it grows rapidly and its large leaves 

 afford much shade. Its wood is soft and spong}', with a specific gravity of about 

 0.50. The tree is also called Fan-leaf palm, Washington palm, California fan-palm, 

 and Wild date. 



