| Araceae |
|---|
Phoenix dactylifera L. |
Phoenix L. |
| P. dactylifera L., Sp. PL 1188 (1753). Syn: P. cycadifolia Hort. ex Regel in Gartenflora 28:131, t. 974 (1879). Ic: Cav., Ic. et Descr. PL 2:13,1.125 (1793), as P. excelsior Cav.;Rech. fil., Fl. Iranica 146: t. 6-8 (1980). Tree 14-30 m. Stems slender, several, often single-stemmed as the result of cutting. Leaves with persistent bases, erect-arcuate, glabrous, glaucous; median segments 30-40 cm, rigid, apical segments 20-30 cm. Flowering spikes ridged, glabrous. Staminate flowers creamy or golden-yellow, fragrant; sepals to 5 mm, fused at base; petals ovate, 7-9 mm, fleshy, apiculate; filaments short; anthers linear, c. 5 mm. Pistillate flowers unscented; sepals broadly ovate, 2 x 5 mm; petals 4x8 mm. Fruit ovoid-globose, 2.5-7.5 cm, reddish or orange-brown; mesocarp succulent, sweet, not fibrous. Seed 5-8 mm broad. Fl 3-4. In parks and gardens. Lectotype (designated by Moore & Dransfield in Taxon 28:64, 1979): 'Palma hortensis mas et foemina' Kaempfer, Amoen. Exot. 668, 686, t. 1, 2 (1712)! W. & S. Anatolia. Bl Izmir: Kültürpark, A. Baytop, photo! C3 Antalya: Antalya, Vural obs. C4 Antalya: Alanya, Vural obs. C5 Içel: Mersin, D. obs.; ibid., A. Baytop obs. Adana: Adana, D. obs. C6 Hatay: Iskenderun, D. obs. Widely cultivated in N. Africa and Sahara, subtropical S.W.Asia, California, Arizona and Mexico for its edible fruits (dates, in Turkish, 'hurma'); perhaps wild on Persian Gulf. In Turkey, as in many S. European cities, grown more as an ornamental rather than for its fruits which require a long hot period to fully ripen. |