Editorial
Martin Gibbons, c/o The Palm Centre
mail@palmsociety.org
Months Of Many Meetings
This issue, spookily enough, reports on not one, not
two, not three but FOUR E.P.S. meetings that have taken place this
year. We have the second and concluding part of the trip to India
which took place in April, then the Cornwall extravaganza organized
by Richard Darlow and written up by attendee Roy Clarke. In terms
of membership, Germany takes second place only to the UK. They're
a keen lot the Germans. They write articles. They write letters.
They send photographs. And they have meetings.
Over 70 members from all over Germany, Austria and
a few other countries attended this year's EPS meeting at the Palmengarten
in Frankfurt on June 28th, which was again perfectly organized by
Gunter Franck with the help of the Palmengarten staff. Following
tours of the garden and its palms and other exotics, members could
purchase and trade some small plants that were brought along. Events
in the afternoon included a slide show on palms in Switzerland's
Ticino by Rainer Gesell-Schulte, a discussion on cold-hardiness
and the effects and experiences left by this year's unusually hard
winter.Finally a slide show on the old and the new members of the
genus Trachycarpus was given by Tobias Spanner.
In September we had the official Summer Meeting of
the E.P.S. attended by some 80 members from all over Europe, and
beyond, based at Almunecar in the south of Spain. It was another
wonderful get-together, and a great opportunity to see some of the
fabulous palms that can be grown on our continent. We should take
this opportunity to thank Thomas Font Perez of the Association Español
des Amigos de Palmeras for his help in organizing this popular event.
Also due for praise is Cristina Cano of Viajes Ilalcon, the travel
agency who handled the accommodation and transport. Without their
help, the event would never have got off the ground. You can read
all about it later in this magazine.
I am especially pleased this issue to publish a comprehensive
10 year study of Chamaerops humilis on Spain's Costa Blanca carried
out by Dr Neil Butler, whom many of us met, with his wife, at our
summer meeting. Fascinating and extremely well-researched, it is
a pleasure to publish. The cost of providing the additional colour
photographs was met by a kind benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.
A second article by Californian Don Tollefson is also a most valuable
contribution to our knowledge of palm growing, and we are indeed
grateful to Don for his regular contributions. We are due for another
insightful episode in the next issue of 'Chamaerops'.
So Long, Sikkimensis
Perhaps one of the most exciting recent discoveries
for temperate area palm enthusiasts has been Trachycarpus 'sikkimensis'.
Seeds have been sold all over the world and in a few years' time
it will surely overtake even the much-loved T. fortunei in terms
of popularity. It is more attractive, faster growing, has a bare
trunk, and the stiff leathery leaves will possibly be more resistant
to wind, the curse of the Chusan palm.
The reason I mention it now is that this new palm
was recently formally and scientifically described, in the Edinburgh
Journal of Botany. It's now been published, and it's an official,
separate species. However, not only can we now drop those inverted
commas, we also must drop the name 'sikkimensis'. In the description,
it was given its new and permanent name and is now officially Trachycarpus
latisectus, the specific name referring to the broad leaflets which
make this wonderful palm instantly recognizable.
So, lest like 'Chamaerops excelsa' people still insist on sticking
to the old name, it is incumbent on all us palm enthusiasts to make
a positive effort NOT to use the old name, but to adopt the new
one, as of now.
Late Request
It cannot have escaped the attention of all readers
how late this issue is, and generally how late Chamaerops is becoming.
While some of the lateness is due to my lack of time, and being
so busy at the new nursery, much of the blame lies simply with the
lack of articles to publish. It seems to be a perpetual problem
with societies such as ours that 95% of the work is done by 5% of
the members, the rest just sit back and wait.
This is particularly true with articles. If I have
to chase people to write papers and letters, it takes time, and
slows down the entire production. Everyone must take some responsibility.
To try to correct this lateness and to bring production
up to date, I want to try and publish two full issues in the next
three months, at which point we should be back on track.
To do this I need your help. Almost everyone who has
an interest in palms has a story to tell. It doesn't have to be
'scientific' or concern an adventure in a far-off land. Indeed,
'amateur' articles seem to be just as popular as those by so-called
experts. So please, if you haven't already done so, help me to help
you and our Society. Make a contribution of your time and effort,
and write a piece for 'Chamaerops'. Don't leave it to someone else.
Thanks! M.G.

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08-12-19 - 09:01GMT
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What's New? |
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New palm book |
Date: 24-05-2004 |

An Encyclopedia
of Cultivated Palms
by Robert Lee Riffle, Paul Craft. |
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New: Issue 48 |
Date: 24-05-2004 |
Chamaerops
48
has been published in the Members Area. |
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Archive complete! |
Date: 03-12-2002 |
All Chamaerops issues can now be found in the archive:
More than 350 articles are on-line! |
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Issues 13 to 16 |
Date: 28-08-2002 |
Chamaerops mags 13,
14,
15
and 16
have been added to the members area. More than 250 articles are now online! |
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42 as free pdf-file |
Date: 05-08-2002 |
Free
Download! Chamaerops No. 42 can be downloaded for free to intruduce the new layout and size to
our visitors |
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Issues 17 to 20 |
Date: 23-07-2002 |
Chamaerops mags 17,
18,
19
and 20
have been added to the members area. Now 218 articles online! |
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Book List |
Date: 28-05-2001 |
Take
a look at our brand new Book List edited by Carolyn Strudwick |
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New Book |
Date: 25-01-2001 |
'Palmen
in Mitteleuropa'
by Mario Stähler
This german book tells you all about how to cultivate your palms in Central Europe. more... |
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