Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm)

Pictures

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Picture

Title

Caption

Copyright

Habitat

Phoenix canariensis in habitat on La Gomera, Canary Islands. December 2006.

©A.R. Pittaway

Habitat

Phoenix canariensis in habitat on La Gomera, Canary Islands. December 2006.

©A.R. Pittaway

Foliage and fruits

Phoenix canariensis, foliage and fruits. La Gomera, Canary Islands. December 2006.

©A.R. Pittaway

Fruits

Phoenix canariensis, fruits. La Gomera, Canary Islands. December 2006.

©A.R. Pittaway

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.

Continent/Country/Region	Distribution	Origin	Invasive	Planted	Reference	Notes
Asia
China	Present	Introduced			Zhang and Lao, 2005
-Fujian	Present	Introduced			Zhang and Lao, 2005
Israel	Present	Introduced			Friedman, 2006
Japan	Present					Present based on regional distribution.
-Kyushu	Present	Introduced			Yoshitake et al., 2001
Taiwan	Present	Introduced			Liao and Chen, 1997
Africa
Egypt	Present	Introduced	Not invasive		Ferry and Gómez, 2002
South Africa	Unconfirmed record				CAB Abstracts
Spain
-Canary Islands	Present	Native	Not invasive	Natural	USDA-ARS, 2008	endemic
North America
USA	Present
-Arizona	Present	Introduced			Missouri Botanical Garden, 2008
-California	Present	Introduced			USDA-NRCS, 2008
-Florida	Present	Introduced			USDA-NRCS, 2008
-Texas	Present	Introduced			Harrison et al., 2002
Central America and Caribbean
Guadeloupe	Present	Introduced			Missouri Botanical Garden, 2008
Nicaragua	Present	Introduced			Missouri Botanical Garden, 2008
South America
Argentina	Present	Introduced			Missouri Botanical Garden, 2008
Bolivia	Present	Introduced			Missouri Botanical Garden, 2008
Colombia	Present	Introduced			Missouri Botanical Garden, 2008
Peru	Present	Introduced			Missouri Botanical Garden, 2008
Europe
France	Present	Introduced			Piry and Gompel, 2002
Greece	Present	Introduced			Elena, 2005
Italy	Present	Introduced			Pane et al., 2007
Spain	Present	Introduced	Not invasive		Ferry and Gómez, 2002
Yugoslavia (former)	Unconfirmed record				CAB Abstracts
Oceania
Australia	Present
-New South Wales	Present	Introduced			Summerell et al., 2006
-South Australia	Present	Introduced			Summerell and Gunn, 2001
-Victoria	Present	Introduced			Summerell et al., 2006

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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Climate	Status	Description
As - Tropical savanna climate with dry summer	Tolerated	< 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25])
Aw - Tropical wet and dry savanna climate	Tolerated	< 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25])
C - Temperate/Mesothermal climate	Preferred	Average temp. of coldest month > 0°C and < 18°C, mean warmest month > 10°C
Cf - Warm temperate climate, wet all year	Preferred	Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, wet all year
Cs - Warm temperate climate with dry summer	Preferred	Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry summers
Cw - Warm temperate climate with dry winter	Preferred	Warm temperate climate with dry winter (Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry winters)

Rainfall

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Parameter	Lower limit	Upper limit	Description
Dry season duration	4	8	number of consecutive months with <40 mm rainfall

Rainfall Regime

Top of page Summer
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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Natural enemy	Type	Life stages
Armillaria tabescens	Pathogen	Whole plant
Botryotinia fuckeliana	Pathogen	Whole plant
Candidatus Phytoplasma palmae	Pathogen	Whole plant
Metamasius hemipterus	Herbivore	Whole plant
Parlatoria blanchardi	Herbivore	Whole plant
Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus	Parasite	Whole plant
Rhynchophorus palmarum	Herbivore	Whole plant
Trichodorus	Parasite	Whole plant

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)

In its native range it is found in riparian areas and thus water is likely to play a role in seed dispersal. Where introduced, it is noted that seed can be dispersed via water through storm drains and then into creeks and rivers (DiTomaso and Healy, 2006).

Vector Transmission (Biotic)

Birds and mammals are dispersal agents for the seeds within the fleshy and edible fruits. Where native, seed dispersal among island habitats by common ravens (Corvus corax) is important (Nogales et al., 1999). Where introduced, birds also ingest and spread the seed (DiTomaso and Healy, 2006).

Intentional Introduction

P. canariensis is planted as an ornamental in many Mediterranean climatic regions of the world (Pane et al., 2007). Its high value as an ornamental means that probably all international introductions were for this purpose, and it is highly likely that further introductions will take place, though it may already be present in all areas where it can grow successfully.

Pathway Causes

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Cause	Long Distance	Local	References
Digestion and excretion		Yes	DiTomaso and Healy, 2006
Escape from confinement or garden escape		Yes	DiTomaso and Healy, 2006
Flooding and other natural disasters		Yes	DiTomaso and Healy, 2006
Nursery trade	Yes		DiTomaso and Healy, 2006
Ornamental purposes	Yes	Yes	DiTomaso and Healy, 2006

Pathway Vectors

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Vector	Notes	Long Distance	Local	References
Water			Yes	DiTomaso and Healy, 2006

Impact Summary

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Category	Impact
Cultural/amenity	Positive
Economic/livelihood	Positive
Environment (generally)	Positive and negative

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).

Like several invasive trees, its very existence in its native range is under threat, such as another Macronesian endemic, Myrica faya in the Azores. In its native range in the Canary Islands, P. canariensis is under threat from loss of habitat, though the main threat to the status of P. canariensis appears to be hybridization with the introduced P. dactylifera (that is creating hybrids). Some individuals that had been morphologically characterised as pure P. canariensis were shown to be hybrids from molecular analysis, and the possible incidence of introgression in the scarce extant natural populations may be more than realised (Gonzalez-Perez et al., 2004).

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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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.