ISHS Acta Horticulturae 486: II International Symposium on Ornamental Palms & other Monocots from the Tropics
NOTES ON THE CUBAN ENDEMIC SPECIES OF THE GENUS THRINAX: A PRELIMINARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF ITS STATUS |
| Author: | C. Morici |
| Abstract:
Five of the seven existing species of Thrinax are indigenous to the island of Cuba and are taken into consideration in this paper. Three of the five species (belonging to the subgenus Hemithrinax) are endemics of very small areas within the island, and few data are available from the literature. The genus is restricted to nutrient poor calcareous soils and sometimes to soilless calcareous structures called mogotes. A sample locality for each species is described, examining the associated species, the relationships between the distribution and certain soil types, rainfall areas and altitude. The conservation status is examined, I.U.C.N. estimative values are given and discussed. The genus Thrinax adapts readily to cultivation, even though only 2 of the 5 species are used as ornamental subjects and are almost unexploited in the Canary Islands and the rest of Spain. The other 3 species have been grown in only a few botanical gardens even though T.rivularis seems to have a horticultural potential due to its acaulescent habit. Some data about germination are given. | |
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