Florida thatch palm
Thrinax radiata

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. The stems are 1.5-12 m tall. They are 6-13 cm across. The leaf sheath has fine fibres. The leaf stalk is 36-94 cm long. The leaf blade has 51-63 leaflets. The middle ones are 0.7-1.1 m long. They are lighter green underneath. The flowering stalk does not arch over and is not longer than the leaves. There are 13-21 primary branches. The branches are smooth at flowering time. The fruit are round and 7-8 mm across. They are white.

The leaves are used to weave hats.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in coastal regions on limestone or sandy soils close to the sea. It is very tolerant to drought. In Townsville Palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Caribbean (country/location of origin), Central America, Cuba (country/location of origin), Dominican Republic, Haiti (country/location of origin), Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica (country/location of origin), Mexico (country/location of origin), North America, Pacific, SE Asia, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

It is slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Chiit, Guianillo, Guano de costa, Latanier-le-mer, Palem rumbia florida, Palma chit

Synonyms

Coccothrinax martii (Griseb. & H. Wendl.) Becc.; Coccothrinax radiata (Lodd. ex Schult & Schult.f.) Sarg.; Porothrinax floridana Sarg.; Thrinax floridana Sarg.; Thrinax martii Griseb. & H. Wendl. ex Griseb.; Thrinax wendlandiana Becc.;