Hi all! Here are three palm trees, from three very different areas, and apart from spanish common names, and although I have suspicions, that gets me just about nowhere when I'm searching for them I've got no idea what they are. If someone out there knows, I'd be really grateful - they're part of My Favourite Trees month, but I can't post about them until I have names. Tree One is commonly called "palma de barril" and was growing in the serrano semidesert at about 2800 meters above sea level. I lurve this tree, and have one in my front yard, but am guilty of growing it without knowing what it is. When the one in my yard throws seeds, it reminds me of Areca, but that's a huge family. Tree Two is commonly called "palma de aciete" and while it superficially resembles tagua (Phytelephas spp) I am very unclear as to whether the two are in the same genus or if the seedpods and fronds and habit simply bear a superficial resemblance. This was growing, in huge plantations, on the coastal floodplains at about 500 meters above sea level. Trees Three are a common boulevard planting all over Ecuador; I was thinking maybe Washingtonia but I am a complete neophyte when it comes to palms and palmettos. These ones were in Guayaquil, which is at or about sea level. Thanks, folks!
#2 translates as 'oil palm', and if growing in large plantations, is presumably Elaeis guineensis. It fits pics like this one: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Elaeis_guineensis_MS_3467.jpg Addenum: also check Elaeis oleifera, which is native to South America.
Thank you thank you thank you! I'd bet that #2 is Elaeis oliefera since the experimental African oil palm plantations here are really clearly marked. (Y hahaha, Micheal. Hablo bien español y conosco el traducción. Fue el similaridad a la tagua que me confundó.)
