Washingtonia Robusta (or filibusta)

Planted September 16, 2006

This picture was taken nine days after "Washy" was planted in this location. This palm's fronds have bright, tawny-colored patches on their basal sheaths, and the cottony threads on its leaves fall off over time. It's trunk is swolen at the base and is already starting to curve, slightly. The palm's leaves are very stiff, and its petioles are fiercely armed, even on this young specimen. All these features lead me to believe that my Washy is a Robusta, but the bases of the petioles are green, like a Filifera, rather than brown, like a typical Robusta. Of course, the genus Washingtonia is known to be highly variable, so it may simply be a Robusta showing a single, Filifera-like trait. Only time will tell.