Silver thatch, Barbados silver thatch
Coccothrinax barbadensis

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A solitary fan palm. The trunk can be 16 m tall. The trunk is 5-18 cm across. The leaves are fan shaped with about 60 segments. They are 100 cm wide. They are flexed at the tip. The flowering shoots come from among the leaves. They have 3-10 branches. The fruit is round and purple black. They are 0.6-1.2 cm across.

Where it is found

It suits tropical and subtropical climates. It suits alkaline soils. It grows in coastal woodland on limestone soils. It grows up to 300 m above sea level and occasionally up to 600 m. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antigua, Asia, Barbados, Central America, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Hawaii, Indonesia, Lesser Antilles, Nicaragua, Pacific, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Trinidad (country/location of origin) and Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit and seeds are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Baye, Guano, Latanye bourik, Latannye, Natannye, Palem perak, Palma de abanico, Palma de escoba, Palm koyo, Yarey

Synonyms

Coccothrinax australis L.H.Bailey; Coccothrinax boxii L.H.Bailey; Coccothrinax discreta L.H.Bailey; Coccothrinax dussiana L.H.Bailey; Coccothrinax laxa (O.F.Cook) Becc.; Coccothrinax martinicensis Becc.; Coccothrinax sabana L.H.Bailey; Thrinax barbadensis Lodd. ex Mart.; Thrinax parviflora Maycock; Thringis laxa O.F.Cook;