Marbella Palm with Two Crowns

Last week I came across this wonderful palm. Usually a palm only has ONE region of growth (apical meristematic tissue) resulting in just one crown of leaves but this one must have suffered some damage, possibly by the red palm weevil larvae, resulting in a division of the region actively carrying out cell division.

Surviving Red Palm Weevil Attack

A badly infested Phoenix canariensis was treated with systemic and contact insecticides last November. The damage was right in the crown with cocoons emerging from the new growing leaves and a large section was rotten, smelling characteristically of vinegar. Several months on a new leaf, albeit eaten, has emerged on the less damaged side of the palm giving hope of recovery.

List of palms affected by the Red Palm Weevil

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus has had an enormous impact on the landscapes of the Mediterranean Coast. The most obvious victims are the mature Canary Palms (Phoenix caneriensis). Although the preference or indeed detrimental effects are mainly observed on this species, many palms are susceptible and with infestation can also result in death of the palm. The list below details all palms that have been host to the Red Palm Weevil.
· Areca catechu
· Arenga saccharifera
· Arenga pinnata
· Borassus fl abellifer
· Borassus sp.
· Calamus merrillii
· Caryota cumingii
· Caryota maxima
· Cocos nucifera
· Corypha utan (= C. gebanga, C. elata)
· Corypha umbraculifer
· Elaeis guineensis
· Livistona decipiens
· Livistona chinensis
· Livistona saribus (= Livistona cochinchinensis)
· Livistona subglobosa
· Metroxylon sagu
· Oneosperma horrida
· Oneosperma tigillarium
· Phoenix canariensis
· Phoenix dactylifera
· Phoenix sylvestris
· Oreodoxaregia
· Sabal umbraculifera
· Trachycarpus fortunei
· Washingtonia sp.
Also;
· Saccharum officinarum, sugar cane
· Agave americana, century plant
There is some evidence suggesting that the native Chamaerops humilis and the popular Washingtonia filifera demonstrate natural resistance to infestation by the Red Palm Weevil