Washingtonia

Washingtonia is a genus of palms, native to the southwestern United States (in southern California, southwest Arizona) and northwest Mexico (in northern Baja California and Sonora).

Related Topics:
Palms - United States - California - Arizona - Mexico - Baja California - Sonora

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They are fan palms (Arecaceae tribe Corypheae), with the leaves with a bare petiole terminating in a rounded fan of numerous leaflets. The flowers are in a dense inflorescence, with the fruits maturing into a small blackish-brown drupe 6-10 mm diameter with a thin layer of sweet flesh over the single seed.

Related Topics:
Fan palms - Leaves - Flower - Fruit - Drupe - Seed

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There are two species:

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The fruit is edible, and was used by Native American people as a minor food source. They are also eaten by birds, which disperse the seeds in their droppings after digesting the fruit pulp.

Related Topics:
Native American - Bird

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Both species are cultivated as ornamental trees, widely planted in California in particular, but also in the Mediterranean region in southern Europe, and parts of Australia.

Related Topics:
Mediterranean - Europe - Australia

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The genus is named after George Washington.

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