Phoenix canariensis
(Canary Island date palm)

Pictures

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Identity

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Preferred Scientific Name

• Phoenix canariensis hort. ex Chabaud (1882)

Preferred Common Name

• Canary Island date palm

International Common Names

• English: Canary Island palm; Canary palm
• French: dattier des Canaries; palmier de Canaries
• Portuguese: tamareira das Canárias

Local Common Names

• Germany: Dattelpalme Kanarische
• Italy: palma delle Canarie
• Netherlands: dadelpalm Kanarische
• New Zealand: phoenix palm

EPPO code

• PHXCA (Phoenix canariensis)

Summary of Invasiveness

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P. canariensis has been widely introduced for centuries and is one of the most commonly grown and appreciated ornamental palms of the world. It has recently been noted naturalising and becoming invasive in southern California and northern New Zealand, mostly in riverine wetland and coastal habitats. Planted widely, seeds are eaten and spread by birds, and can be washed down watercourses where established. However, control is likely to prove less difficult as compared with other invasive plants.

Taxonomic Tree

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• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Monocotyledonae
•                     Order: Arecales
•                         Family: Arecaceae
•                             Genus: Phoenix
•                                 Species: Phoenix canariensis

Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Top of page The Canary Island endemic palm tree Phoenix canariensis is a distinct member of the genus, even from other Macaronesian endemics such as Phoenix atlantica. It is also known to be able to hybridise naturally with Phoenix dactilifera that was introduced and is widespread in the Canary Islands (Gonzalez-Perez et al., 2004), and thus it may also hybridise with other species.

Description

Top of page P. canariensis is a large palm up to 18 m tall, with a thick erect trunk up to 1.2 m in diameter and a crown occupying the upper 2.5-4.5 m. Leaves up to 1.5-1.8 m long are alternate and pinnately compound, containing lanceolate leaflets 30-45 cm long with sharp spines 5-8 cm long on the lower half of the petiole. Flowers creamy yellow-white and open from a husk-like structure that appears periodically throughout the year, being dioecious with both males and female flowers occurring on dense, hanging bunches, though on separate trees. Fruit is an orange-brown to dark purple fleshy drupe, elliptical and 1-3 cm long, occurring in hanging clusters, each containing a single large seed. Adapted from Gilman and Watson (1994).

Plant Type

Top of page Annual
Perennial
Seed propagated
Tree
Woody

Distribution

Top of page As one of the world’s most popular ornamental palms, it is evidently much more widespread than indicated in the distribution table, and may even be cosmopolitan in sub-tropical and temperate areas. It is also recorded at higher latitudes under special protected conditions.

Distribution Table

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The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

Last updated: 10 Jan 2020

History of Introduction and Spread

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P. canariensis was introduced to mainland Europe from the 1600s, and around the Mediterranean including North Africa and West Asia, and was introduced across the Atlantic Ocean from as early as the 1700s as an ornamental palm, first by Spanish missionaries and colonizers, such as to California, Central and South America. It has since then been widely introduced as a popular ornamental palm, to parts of Australasia, Asia and Africa.

Risk of Introduction

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P. canariensis has been designated as a Research Pest in Auckland, New Zealand, and it is on the 2006 Cal-IPC Invasive Plant Inventory for California, USA (DiTomaso and Healy, 2006). However, it is widely available as an ornamental palm, and is available as seed, seedlings, potted plants and planted stock from many nurseries and internet businesses. Risk of introduction is high, though it is likely that it may already be present in most areas having a suitable climate.

Habitat

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In its native range on the Canary Islands, P. canariensis grows on a wide variety of soils, in areas from 200 to 600 m altitude (Santos Guerra, 1994; Morici, 1998). Where introduced, it is a common ornamental in urban and coastal areas, and has spread mainly in disturbed riverine areas, but also to a limited extent in coastal areas and wetlands, such as in southern California (DiTomaso and Healy, 2006).

Habitat List

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Category	Sub-Category	Habitat	Presence	Status
Terrestrial
	Terrestrial – Managed	Disturbed areas	Present, no further details	Harmful (pest or invasive)
		Disturbed areas	Present, no further details	Natural
		Urban / peri-urban areas	Present, no further details	Productive/non-natural
	Terrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-natural	Riverbanks	Present, no further details	Harmful (pest or invasive)
		Riverbanks	Present, no further details	Natural
		Wetlands	Present, no further details	Harmful (pest or invasive)
		Scrub / shrublands	Present, no further details	Natural
Littoral
		Coastal areas	Present, no further details	Harmful (pest or invasive)
		Coastal areas	Present, no further details	Productive/non-natural

Biology and Ecology

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Genetics

P. canariensis has a chromosome number of 36, the same as that of P. dactvlifera, P. reclinata and other species thatare known to be able to hybridise with it (Beal, 1937).

Reproductive Biology

Like P. dactylifera, P. canariensis is dioecious, and may not start to produce fruit until it is at least 5-10 years old. P. canariensis is often described as anemophilous (wind pollinated), though is likely to be pollinated, at least in part, by the weevil Neoderelomus piriformis (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Derelomini)(Meekijjaroenroj, 2004). The fruit ripens in summer. It is interesting to note that this pollinator now appears to be spreading, with first records on P. canariensis from France (Piry and Gompel, 2002), and Israel, where it is also noted as an invasive species (Friedman, 2006). P. canariensis trees, especially in more humid climates.

Physiology and Phenology

It is a very slow growing tree especially in early establishment.

Associations

Various epiphytes are commonly seen growing in the crowns of large P. canariensis trees, especially in more humid climates. Organic matter tends to collect at the bases of fronds thus providing a suitable environment for such plants to grow and thrive.
 

Environmental Requirements

The palms are found growing on a wide variety of soils, and P. canariensis has an extensive root system for finding sub-surface water, and is also resistant to temporary waterlogging caused by sudden rains. In urban environments where P. canariensis is often introduced as an ornamental, this species can thrive in a variety of habitats and soil types (Gilman and Watson, 1994). It can withstand light frosts when mature though it is frost-sensitive as a seedling and during early establishment. It can tolerate high temperatures and salt winds. It is found in its native range from 200-600 m altitude (Santos Guerra, 1994).

Climate

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Rainfall

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Rainfall Regime

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Winter

Soil Tolerances

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Soil drainage

• free
• impeded
• seasonally waterlogged

Soil reaction

• acid
• alkaline
• neutral

Soil texture

• heavy
• light
• medium

Special soil tolerances

• infertile
• saline
• shallow
• sodic

Natural enemies

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Notes on Natural Enemies

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Noting their ability to interbreed, it is likely that many pests and diseases of the date palm (P. dactylifera) could also attack P. canariensis. In the Mediterranean region, the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Rhynchophoridae) has been recently introduced, and which has been observed attacking and severely damaging P. canariensis(Faleiro, 2006). It had already been noted as a pest of P. canariensis in Japan (Yoshitake et al., 2001). It is also reported that the giant palm weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum) can kill recently transplanted palms or those which are injured, and the palm leaf skeletonizer (Homaledra sabalella) attacked the foliage (Gilman and Watson, 1994).

Fusarium wilt of P. canariensiscaused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.canariensiswas recorded for the first time in Australia first in South Australia (Summerell and Gunn, 2001) and later in Victoria (Summerell et al., 2006). Fusarium oxysporumhas also been seen on P. canariensis in Argentina, and it is spreading in Europe with a recent first record from Greece (Elena, 2005). Also attacking P. canariensis is the dwarf wilt Ceratocystis paradoxaobserved in Fujian, China, (Zhang and Lao, 2005), with a first report of bud rot Phytophthora palmivorain Italy (Pane et al., 2007), Ganoderma applanatum (Gilman and Watson, 1994), and a group phytoplasma causing lethal decline in Texas, USA (Harrison et al., 2002).

Means of Movement and Dispersal

Top of page Natural Dispersal (Non-Biotic)



Vector Transmission (Biotic)



Intentional Introduction

Pathway Causes

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Pathway Vectors

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Impact Summary

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Economic Impact

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There is significant if unmeasured positive economic impact from sales as an ornamental plant.

Environmental Impact

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P. canariensis can produce a dense mat of seedlings and has been noted as displacing native biodiversity and in one case caused a river to change course leading to the flooding of a site of historical importance in California (DiTomaso and Healy, 2006). It has been noted as a nuisance weed along parts of the San Diego River, and has been the focus of several restoration projects in Los Penasquitos Preserve (DiTomaso and Healy, 2006). However, it is only classified as causing minor ecological impacts by California Invasive Plant Inventory (Cal-IPC, 2006).

Social Impact

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It has a clear social value as a spectacular ornamental palm, however, it is often noted that it should not be planted in areas where children may gather such as schools, as until they reach a suitable height, the very sharp spines on the fronds can cause serious injury. P. canariensis is also a source of bronchial asthma in certain individuals, as palm fronds senesce and dry out (Blanco et al., 1995).

Risk and Impact Factors

Top of page Invasiveness

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Highly mobile locally
• Long lived

Impact outcomes

• Damaged ecosystem services
• Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
• Increases vulnerability to invasions
• Modification of hydrology
• Monoculture formation
• Negatively impacts human health
• Reduced native biodiversity
• Threat to/ loss of native species

Impact mechanisms

• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Competition - shading
• Pest and disease transmission
• Hybridization
• Interaction with other invasive species

Likelihood of entry/control

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

Uses

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The principle use is as a highly valued ornamental species, and has been successfully grown in urban areas where air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil, and/or drought are common (Gilman and Watson, 1994). Its large stature means it is unsuitable for small gardens, and is better along avenues, in parks and in and around large open spaces such as squares, car parks, etc.

The fruit is not poisonous, but neither is it regarded as edible, being not particular tasty to very astringent, and is rarely consumed and not commercialized. Flowers are a source of bee forage in its native range.

Uses List

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Environmental

• Amenity
• Ornamental

Human food and beverage

• Honey/honey flora

Ornamental

• Potted plant
• Propagation material

Similarities to Other Species/Conditions

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P. canariensis is probably only second in economic importance within the genus to the date palm, P. dactylifera, though can be separated by having a thicker trunk and longer fronds. P. dactylifera is, however, also an invasive species on several Pacific islands including Hawaii, Fiji and New Caledonia and possibly also the Galapagos (PIER, 2008), and P. reclinata is invasive in Bermuda (Kairo et al., 2003).

Prevention and Control

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Due to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.

No specific information has been located on best practices for controlling P. canariensis, although some control has been attempted in California and New Zealand. It is likely, however, that control would be relatively simple, by simply uprooting or hand pulling seedlings, and larger trees would be killed by felling at any height as they do not coppice.

References

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BEAL JM, 1937. Cytological studies in the genus Phoenix. Botanical Gazette, 99:400-07

Blanco C, Carillo T, Quiralte J, Pascual C, Esteban MM, Castillo R, 1995. Occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma due to Phoenix canariensis pollen allergy. Allergy, 50(3):277-80

Brandes D, 2001. Urban flora of Sousse (Tunisia). Braunschweig, Germany: Botanisches Institut und Botanischer Garten der TU Braunschweig. http://opus.tu-bs.de/opus/volltexte/2001/189/pdf/Sousse.pdf

Cal-IPC, 2006. California Invasive Plant Council. http://www.cal-ipc.org/

DiTomaso J, Healy EA, 2006. Weeds of California and Other Western States. UC DANR Publ. #3488

Elena K, 2005. Fusarium wilt of Phoenix canariensis: first report in Greece. Plant Pathology, 54(2):244. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/servlet/useragent?func=showIssues&code=ppa

Esler, A. E., Astridge, S. J., 1987. The naturalisation of plants in urban Auckland, New Zealand. 2. Records of introduction and naturalisation. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 25(4), 523-537.

Faleiro JR, 2006. A review of the issues and management of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Rhynchophoridae) in coconut and date palm during the last one hundred years. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 26(3):135-154. http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FJTI%2FJTI26_03%2FS1742758407203340a.pdf&code=1deb83cc2eaac3c89ea5704c1f57a0b3

Ferry M, Gómez S, 2002. The red palm weevil in the Mediterranean area. Palms, 46(4):172-178

Friedman ALL, 2006. Derelomus piriformis Hoffmann (Curculionoidea: Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Derelomini), a new invasive species in Israel. Phytoparasitica, 34(4):357-359. http://www.phytoparasitica.org

Gilman EF, Watson DG, 1994. Phoenix canariensis Canary Island Date Palm. Fact Sheet ST-439. USA: University of Florida, Florida Cooperative Extension Service. http://hort.ifas.edu/trees/PHOCANA.pdf

González-Pérez MA, Caujapé-Castells J, Sosa PA, 2004. Molecular evidence of hybridisation between the endemic Phoenix canariensis and the widespread P. dactylifera with Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Plant Systematics and Evolution, 247(3/4):165-175

Harrison NA, Womack M, Carpio ML, 2002. Detection and characterization of a lethal yellowing (16SrIV) group phytoplasma in Canary Island date palms affected by lethal decline in Texas. Plant Disease, 86(6):676-681

Kairo M, Ali B, Cheesman O, Haysom K, Murphy S, 2003. Invasive species threats in the Caribbean region. Report to the Nature Conservancy. Curepe, Trinidad and Tobago: CAB International, 132 pp. http://www.issg.org/database/species/reference_files/Kairo%20et%20al,%202003.pdf

Liao CT, Chen CC, 1997. Primary study of the insect pests, hosts and ecology of weevil attacking ornamental palm seedlings. Bulletin of Taichung District Agricultural Improvement Station, No. 57:43-48

Meekijjaroenroj A, 2004. Palm (Arecaceae) / pollinator interactions: case study of two palm species, Calamus castaneus, Phoenix canariensis and floral fragrance chemistry. France: Montpellier University

Missouri Botanical Garden, 2013. VAScular Tropicos database. Missouri, USA: Missouri Botanical Garden. http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/vast.html

Morici C, 1998. Phoenix canariensis in the wild. Principes, 42(2, April):85-89, 92-93

National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, 2008. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. Beltsville, USA: USDA-ARS. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search

Nogales M, Hernández EC, Valdés F, 1999. Seed dispersal by common ravens Corvus corax among island habitats (Canarian Archipelago). Écoscience, 6(1):56-61

Nogales M, Hernßndez EC, ValdTs F, 1999. Seed dispersal by common ravens Corvus corax among island habitats (Canarian Archipelago). Écoscience, 6(1):56-61; 33 ref

Pane A, Allatta C, Sammarco G, Cacciola SO, 2007. First report of bud rot of Canary Island date palm caused by Phytophthora palmivora in Italy. Plant Disease, 91(8):1059. HTTP://www.apsnet.org

PIER, 2008. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk. USA: Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry. http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html

Piry S, Gompel N, 2002. First record of Neoderelomus piriformis (Hoffmann, 1938) from France on Phoenix canariensis Hort., Arecaceae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Derelomini). (Présence en France de Neoderelomus piriformis (Hoffmann, 1938) sur le palmier Phoenix canariensis Hort. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Derelomini).) Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France, 107(5):529-534

Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, 2008. Australia's Virtual Herbarium. Australia's Virtual Herbarium. Sydney, Australia: Royal Botanic Gardens. http://avhtas.tmag.tas.gov.au/

Santos Guerra A, 1994. Distribution of Phoenix canariensis in the Canary Islands. In: Acta Horticulturae [ed. by Demattê MESP], 71-72

Stace C, 1991. New Flora of the British Isles [ed. by Cambridge University Press]. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press

Summerell BA, Gunn LV, 2001. First record of Fusarium wilt of Phoenix canariensis in South Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 30(1):75

Summerell BA, Smith DI, Gunn LV, Smith IW, Pascoe IG, 2006. Fusarium wilt of Phoenix canariensis in Victoria. Australasian Plant Pathology, 35(2):289-290. http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/39/paper/AP06007.htm

Timmins SM, Braithwaite H, 2002. Early detection of invasive weeds on islands. In: Turning the tide: the eradication of invasive species [ed. by Veitch C, Clout M] Gland, Cambridge, Switzerland, UK: IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group, 311-318

USDA-ARS, 2008. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. Beltsville, Maryland, USA: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch.aspx

USDA-NRCS, 2008. The PLANTS Database, Version 3. Baton Rouge, USA: National Plant Data Center. http://plants.usda.gov

Virginia Tech Forestry Department, 2008. Canary Island date palm: Arecaceae, Phoenix canariensis Hort. ex Chabaud. http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=597

Yoshitake H, Masaoka K, Satô S, Nakajima A, Kamitani S, Yukawa J, Kojima H, 2001. Occurrence of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera : Dryophthoridae) on Nokonoshima Island, southern Japan and its possible invasion further north. Kyushu Plant Protection Research, 47:145-150

Zhang ShaoSheng, Lao QiLiao, 2005. Identification on pathogen of dwarf wilt of Phoenix canariensis and Washingtonia robusta. Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 41(1), 98-99.

Distribution References

CABI Data Mining, Undated. CAB Abstracts Data Mining.,

CABI, Undated. Compendium record. Wallingford, UK: CABI

CABI, Undated a. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI

CABI, Undated b. CABI Compendium: Status as determined by CABI editor. Wallingford, UK: CABI

Elena K, 2005. Fusarium wilt of Phoenix canariensis: first report in Greece. Plant Pathology. 54 (2), 244. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/servlet/useragent?func=showIssues&code=ppa DOI:10.1111/j.1365-3059.2005.01170.x

Ferry M, Gómez S, 2002. The red palm weevil in the Mediterranean area. Palms. 46 (4), 172-178.

Friedman A L L, 2006. Derelomus piriformis Hoffmann (Curculionoidea: Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Derelomini), a new invasive species in Israel. Phytoparasitica. 34 (4), 357-359. http://www.phytoparasitica.org

Harrison N A, Womack M, Carpio M L, 2002. Detection and characterization of a lethal yellowing (16SrIV) group phytoplasma in Canary Island date palms affected by lethal decline in Texas. Plant Disease. 86 (6), 676-681. DOI:10.1094/PDIS.2002.86.6.676

Liao ChungTa, Chen ChingChung, 1997. Primary study the insect pests, hosts and ecology of weevil attacking ornamental palm seedlings. Bulletin of Taichung District Agricultural Improvement Station. 43-48.

Pane A, Allatta C, Sammarco G, Cacciola S O, 2007. First report of bud rot of Canary Island date palm caused by Phytophthora palmivora in Italy. Plant Disease. 91 (8), 1059. HTTP://www.apsnet.org DOI:10.1094/PDIS-91-8-1059A

Piry S, Gompel N, 2002. First record of Neoderelomus piriformis (Hoffmann, 1938) from France on Phoenix canariensis Hort., Arecaceae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Derelomini). (Présence en France de Neoderelomus piriformis (Hoffmann, 1938) sur le palmier Phoenix canariensis Hort. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Derelomini).). Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France. 107 (5), 529-534.

Summerell B A, Gunn L V, 2001. First record of Fusarium wilt of Phoenix canariensis in South Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology. 30 (1), 75. DOI:10.1071/AP01001

Summerell B A, Smith D I, Gunn L V, Smith I W, Pascoe I G, 2006. Fusarium wilt of Phoenix canariensis in Victoria. Australasian Plant Pathology. 35 (2), 289-290. http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/39/paper/AP06007.htm DOI:10.1071/AP06007

USA, USDA-ARS, 2008. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. In: Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database, Beltsville, USA: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

USDA-NRCS, 2008. Asparagus densiflorus. In: The PLANTS Database, Version 3, Baton Rouge, USA: National Plant Data Center. http://plants.usda.gov

Yoshitake H, Masaoka K, Satô S, Nakajima A, Kamitani S, Yukawa J, Kojima H, 2001. Occurrence of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera : Dryophthoridae) on Nokonoshima Island, southern Japan and its possible invasion further north. Kyushu Plant Protection Research. 145-150.

Zhang ShaoSheng, Lao QiLiao, 2005. Identification on pathogen of dwarf wilt of Phoenix canariensis and Washingtonia robusta. Scientia Silvae Sinicae. 41 (1), 98-99.

Links to Websites

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Contributors

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29/02/08 Original text by:

Nick Pasiecznik, Consultant, France

Distribution Maps

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