| Washingtonia | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Subfamily: | Coryphoideae |
| Tribe: | Trachycarpeae |
| Genus: | Washingtonia H. Wendl. 1879,[1] conserved name not Winslow 1854 (syn ofSequoiadendron) |
| Species | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
NeowashingtoniaSudw. | |
Washingtonia is agenus ofpalms, native to the southwesternUnited States (in southern California, and southwestArizona) and northwestMexico (inBaja California andSonora).[2][3] BothWashingtonia species are commonly cultivated across theSouthern United States, theMiddle East, southernEurope, andNorth Africa, where they have greatly hybridized.
They arefan palms (subfamilyCoryphoideae), with petioles armed with sharp thorns terminating in a rounded fan of numerous leaflets. Theflowers are in a dense inflorescence, with thefruits maturing into a small blackish-browndrupe 6–10 mm diameter with a thin layer of sweet flesh over the singleseed.[4]
There are three species:Washingtonia robusta,Washingtonia filifera, andWashingtonia filibusta
| Species | Description | Current distribution |
|---|---|---|
| California washingtonia,northern washingtonia,California fan palm, ordesert fan palmWashingtonia filifera (Lindl. ex André) H.Wendl.
| Tree to 23 m tall; leaves large, with petiole up to 2 m long, and leaflets up to 2 m long. Inflorescence to 5 m long; flowers white; fruit oval. Palms are often found at the base of mountains, hills and form around desert oasis in the southwest. They are used in landscaping, particularly in southern counties of California. | Southwestern USA, just into extreme northwest Mexico. |
 | ThisWashingtonia is a hybrid between therobusta andfilifera | |
| Mexican washingtonia orsouthern washingtoniaWashingtonia robusta H.Wendl.
| Tree to 25 m tall; leaves smaller, with petiole up to 1 m long, and leaflets up to 1 m long. Inflorescence to 3 m long; flowers pale orange-pink; fruit spherical. | Northwest Mexico. (Teresa Ribeiroet al.). |
The fruit is edible, and was used byNative American people as a minor food source. They are also eaten bybirds, which disperse the seeds in their droppings after digesting the fruit pulp.Washingtonia species are also used as food plants by thelarvae of someLepidoptera species, includingPaysandisia archon.
Both species are cultivated as ornamental trees, widely planted in California,Florida,Texas, extreme southwestUtah,Arizona, southernNew Mexico,South Carolina, and southern areas ofNorth Carolina. It is also cultivated in theMediterranean region in southern Europe and north Africa, parts ofAustralia, and theleeward sides of theHawaiian Islands.W. filifera is modestlyhardy in drier climate and able to survive brief temperatures in the vicinity of -15 °C (10 °F), provided the air and soil are not too wet, and the afternoon temperatures are not too cold. Intolerance of wet, prolonged cold is the main reason thefilifera species cannot grow in temperate climates.W. robusta is less sensitive to moisture thanfilifera, but far more easily damaged by cold.
The genus is named afterGeorge Washington.[5]
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![Historic fan palm (first known transplanting late 1850s[6]) in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aPalm_tree_expo_park_coliseum_peristyle.jpg)
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