Coccothrinax barbadensis (Lodd. ex Mart.) Becc., Arecaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 2 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Thrinax barbadensis Lodd. ex Mart.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: silver thatch, thatch palm

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Solitary, 16-50 (-70) foot tall; trunk 4-8 inches in diameter, gray, smooth.  Fronds 12-15; sheath fibers woven like burlap; peti biconvex in cross section (i.e. not grooved on top), densely scaly inside sheath, becoming smooth above, ca 3.5 feet long, hatula ± triangular, 0.8 x 0.8-1.2 inches, surrounded by yellow halo in adjacent blade; blades 3.3+ feet wide, upper side glossy green, underside usually silvery, with 50-70 segments, these 0.8-1.8 inches at widest point where joined, ca 24-35 inches long, tips often 2-lobed.  Inflorescence 10-18 inches long, with 4-10 glabrous primary branches.  Flowers stalked, pale yellow, fragrant; stamens 9-12.  Fruit flattened-globose, 0.28-0.47 inches in diameter, pedicels 0.04-0.2 inches long"  (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 620).

Habitat/ecology:  "Silver palm grows best in tropical regions and needs a sunny position in well-drained soil. A slow grower in its native state, silver palm responds very well to regular applications of palm fertilizer. Silver palm grows well in limestone and sandy soils. Silver palms thrive in full sun. Small silver palms make good indoor plants and require bright, though indirect light.  Silver palms do best on well drained, alkaline soils with frequent watering.  USDA Zones 9 - 12. Mature and established silver palms can tolerate temperatures down to 26øF (-3.3øC) Juvenile silver palms need protection during freezing temperatures"  (Floridata).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "Caribbean area from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands through the small islands of the Lesser Antilles to Trinidad and Tobago and to Margarita Island off the coast of Venezuela" (Staples & Herbst, 2005; p. 620).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2012) (p. 29) Voucher cited: OED 2010042201 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 620)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2012) (p. 29) Voucher cited: OED 2009040602 (BISH)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Coccothrinax barbadensis, please let us know.