The Phenomenon of the Forking Phoenix
While on holiday Richard is wont to keep an eye
open for palmy peculiarities. This one was waiting for him outside
his hotel.
Richard Darlow, 106 Vaughan Road, Barnsley, UK
Chamaerops No.23, Summer Edition 1996
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Photo: Forking Phoenix, Puerto Banus, Spain
How many species of palm naturally branch? Very few
you will say. Hyphaene species are probably the best known, Their
slim trunks eventually forking repeatedly to form a dense crown,
very much in the same manner as Cordyline australis, Then there's
Phoenix dactylifera. Phoenix dactylifera? Whoever heard of a branching
Phoenix dactylifera? Suckers? yes, branches? no. Well actually,
branches? yes also. We all know that this species produces an abundance
of suckers if left to its own devices. The branching phenomenon
is quite rarethough.
In the Spanish garden Huerto del Cura at Elche, there
are two famous old branched specimens of Phoenix dactylifera. each
quite different in appearance. This garden started life as a date
palm grove in the manner introduced to Spain by the Arabs, Traditionally,
other crops were grown amongst the palms because they yielded a
greater return. In 1843, a date palm germinated among the palms,
pomegranates and artichokes, After thirty years, the palm (a male)
began to produce shoots around its trunk approximately 2 metres
above the ground. The shoots (seven in all) grew outwards at right
angles to the trunk.
Later, each shoot turned 90° and began to grow
vertically upwards, parallel to the main trunk. Now, 120 years later,
the tree consists of seven trunks encircling the main central trunk
like a three dimensional candelabra! A substantial metal support
props up each 'branch' while guy wires, attached to metal collars
higher up each trunk provide additional stability. This specimen
was named Palmera Imperial following a visit to the garden by the
Sovereign in 1894.
The other branched Phoenix .at Huerta del Cura is
located in the Cactus garden. This tree has a very thick trunk which
forks and divides into 6 or 7 branches, again from a point well
above the ground. The branches radiate upwards and outwards and
the foliage therefore creates a very broad canopy. The whole tree
looks very short and squat and is probably like no other date palm
you know. Both specimens are visually exciting and fascinating but
cannot really be described as beautiful.
I have not yet had an opportunity to visit the Huerto
del Cura but recently spent a holiday in Andalucia in the resort
of Puerto Banus. On the last day of the holiday, I spent some time
photographing palms and other exotics in some of the villa gardens
around the hotel. Imagine my surprise and delight when I suddenly
realised that one of the many Phoenix dactylifera I was gazing up
at, had a multiple head!
The top of the trunk had quite recently divided into
4 or 5 individual heads. I had to zoom in closer with the camera
in order to confirm what my eyes were seeing. The resulting photo
is reproduced here, What makes it more unbelievable is the fact
that this tree is literally across the road from our hotel and I
hadn't spotted it until the last day! I suspect now, having seen
this specimen, that there are quite a few more of these botanical
freaks.
Interestingly, the ones mentioned in this article
are all in Spain. Does the Sparish climate/ soil have a monopoly
of producing branched date palms? Perhaps one of our Sparish members
has more to tell us on this subject. I would certainly be interested
to know if any members have spotted a multiple branched/headed date
palm while on their Palm travels.
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