Northwest Palms

Butia eriospatha multiple germinations

Butia eriospatha seeds seem to have a natural tendency for multiple germinations. The eriospatha seeds I've tried all have 3 distinct chambers and out of the nine I was able to germinate 3 have sprouted from 2 seed chambers and 1 has sprouted from all three. All of these multi-germinations are growing strong at relatively equal rates. Each individual plant has two leaves now with a couple looking ready to push out a third leaf.

Even more surpising is that one seed which initially germinated from a single chamber has now (8 months later), germinated from a second chamber and is pushing out its first leaf from that chamber while its sibling already has 2. I would have thought the first germination would inhibit further germinations.

I plan to let these multiple germinations grow together as they would naturally. Of the 40 palm species (including 4 butia species) I've tried Butia eriospatha is the only one two have survived a multiple germination; Butia yatay also had some double germinations but one of the siblings always died. I guess this would explain pictures of plants like this:

The following thread was started by Eric (Victoria) on September 15, 2007 at 1:39 pm PST

I've heard people claim that eriospatha is hardier or more tolerant of rain than capitata. My capitata died last winter. Do people have a sense of this on this list?
Thanks
John S
PDX OR

The above followup was added by John S on September 15, 2007 at 8:31 pm PST.

My sense would be that they're hardier, although I haven't put my b. capitata or b. capitata var odorata (southern jelly palm) to the test yet. I had to butia eriospatha seedlings out fully exposed to the moist frosty conditions of march and in full intense sunlight on my deck later in the year. They survived and thrived, the ones I have outside have built a much thicker base but shorter leaves than those inside.

The above followup was added by Eric (Victoria) on September 16, 2007 at 1:31 am PST.

Hi

We have Butia Eriospatha seeds which germinate more than 1 time.
a couple even 3 times!
We ask ourselves / separate them or not??

Rg
John en Tacha

The above followup was added by John en tacha on September 17, 2007 at 2:32 am PST.