| Adonidia merrillii | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Adonidia |
| Species: | A. merrillii |
| Binomial name | |
| Adonidia merrillii | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Adonidia merrillii, theManila palm, is a palm tree species native to thePhilippines (Palawan andDanjugan Island).[1] This palm was cultivated for centuries in East Asia before becoming a staple in the West. It is reportedly naturalized in the West Indies and Florida.[3] It is commonly known as the "Christmas palm" because itsfruits become bright scarlet and tend to be that color in winter. This palm is typically fairly small and slender, normally attaining 25 feet[4] or 8 meters[5] in heightbut has attained over 40 feet in some instances.[citation needed] Most plants maintain 5-7 fronds when young, gradually building up the crown as the palm ages, and sometimes reaches 10-12 fronds when mature.
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The Adonidia palm, sometimes described as the "mini-royal-palm", adapts well to landscaping and cultivation, as well as growing in pots. It is able to withstand large amounts of rainfall and can tolerate short droughts, though it does not like sea salt. Adonidias prefer full sun but can withstand partial shade. They are not tolerant of the cold, making their perennial outdoor usage limited to frost-free zones. One of the most common landscape palms in Southern Florida (used at such places as theMiami Open tennis tournament), it is often clustered together in groups of 2-3, sometimes four. Because, in its natural state, it grows as a solitary palm, this batching together of several heads runs the risk of the head competing against themselves. In order to minimize the risk, nurseries train these palms when young to arch outward, instead of growing straight up.
Adonidia merrillii is widely planted incultivation and grows well intropical locations such asHawaii and the southern half of theFlorida peninsula. It is also one of the most commonly planted ornamental palms in the world, often planted in non-tropical locations such as shopping malls.[citation needed] It is sometimes used as an annual in places that freeze in the Winter (for example, Times Square, New York City plants these for the warm-weather season).
The Adonidia is also commonly placed indoors in hotels, casinos, and other higher-end establishments due to its ability to adjust to lower light conditions. They are self-pruning palms and require little to no maintenance.[4]Its fruits are sometimes said to be used as a substitute for thebetel nut, in preparing buyo (fruit ofAreca catechu, leaves ofPiper betle, andlime) for chewing.[5]
