1966J READ: COCCOTHRINAX 133 Coccothrinax jamaicensis The Jamaican Silver Thatch ROBERT W. REAO* Department 0/ Botany, University 0/ the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica In 1939, Dr. Liberty Hyde Bailey pub­ flowers, Dr. Bailey chose to associate lished the results of his studies of the the palm with Coccothrinax fragrans genus Coccothrinax in the southern Burret, a species of very limited distribu­ Greater Antilles (Gent. Herb. 4: 247­ tion in Cuba "known by its yellow very 259). In this study, he considered six fragrant flowers, ..." The Jamaican species of Hispaniola, and one each from plants do not have yellow flowers and Puerto Rico and Jamaica. During the the additional characters given are not same year, Brother Leon of Cuba also adequate to combine the two as a sin­ published his finding concerning the gle taxon. In the original description genus in Cuba (Mem. Soc. Cub. Hist. of C. fragrans by Burret, the indumen­ Nat. 13(3): 107·156) in which, out of tum on the abaxial surface of the leaf a total of 21 species indigenous to Cuba, is described as ". .. pallidiores, ... he described 13 new species and a num­ mox plus minus caduco ... demum fere ber of new varieties. With so many glabris ...;" and this is the key to the species of Coccothrinax known in Cuba problem, for the plants of Jamaica have and Hispaniola, it is curious that only brilliantly silvery undersurfaces on the a single species occurs in Jamaica. leaves and the indumentum is strongly When Dr. Bailey first collected the persistent, the leaves never being glab. silver thatch in Jamaica it had been rescent. Further differences between the known as Coccothrinax argentata, but the two species are tabulated below with Jamaica plant differs from that species characters for C. fragrans as given by in having the flowers and fruits on very Burret and Leon, and from Leon's speci­ long pedicels. Because of inadequate mens numbered 16388, 15926 (GH). sampling and the rather variable char­ acter of the Jamaican silver thatch, and COCCOTHRINAX JAMAICENSIS R. W. Read, possibly biased by the strongly fragrant sp. nov. Thrinax argentea sensu Griseb. pro *I wish to express my appreciation to Dr. W. Dress of the 1. H. Bailey Hortorium, Cornell parte, Fl. Br. W. Ind. 515. 1964 not University, for assistance with the Latin diag­ Lodd. ex Schult. & Schult., Syst. nosis and to Dr. C. D. Adams of the Univer· sity of the West Indies for critically reviewing Veg. 7: 1300. 1830. the manuscript. C. fragrans C. jamaicensis Palman length 13-16 em. (15·) 19·36 em. Abaxial surface of leaf blade whitish bright silvery Indumentum of abaxial surface inconspicuous, conspicuous, caducous, persistent, glabrescent tomentose Number of primary inflorescence 4-5 (4·) 5-7 branches Flower color yellow whitish Hastula length (free portion) (1.9-) 2-2.5 em. 0.41-1.50 (-1.8) em. 134 PRINCIPES [Vol. 10

1. Coccothrinax jamaicensis. Close·up of flow­ ers of plant from which the type specimen was made. Coccothrinax argentea of authors not Sargent, Bot. Gaz. 27: 89. 1899. C. fragrans sensu Bailey, Gent. Herb. 4: 256. 1939 not Burret, Kung!' Svensk. Vet. Akad. Hand!. 6(7): 15·16. 1929. Palmae solitariae caulibus gracilibus; folii pagina abaxialis argentea, incon­ 2. Brian Morley of Kew, England, holds the spicue punctulata, dense lepidota squa­ plant of C. jamaicensis cut in woods along the mulis persistentibus hyalinis, palmine Queen's Highway from which the type speci- men was made. 18-36 em. longo, hastula minus quam 1.8 em. longa, segmentis 35-58, eis cen­ arcuata, pedicellis (2-) 3-6 (-6.2) mm. tralibus plus quam 2.5 em. latis, vagina longis. ex reti fibroso subtili constanti; inflores­ Trunk 6-8 m. high, (5-) 6.4-20 em. centia brevis (4-) 5-6 (-7) -partita, flori­ in diam., gray, smooth, the plant com­ bus eburneis, staminibus (7-) 9-14 mencing to flower when ca. 2 m. tall and (-15), antheribus (2.0) 2.1-3.0 (-3.2) producing flowers several times a year mm. longis; inflorescentia fructificans (Nov., May, July). Leaf blade palmate, 1966] READ: COCCOTHRINAX 135

4. Hastulas from a single plant of C. jamai­ censis. Eames) connecting all apices of the leaf segments (as the blade expands the 3. Chromosomes of C. jamaicensis: above, camera lueida drawing magnified about 2,700 rein breaks apart easily but is often times; below, photographs of chromosomes at found as an elongate whip-like attenu· two levels of focus from Kodachrome transpar- ation of the lowermost segments); has· ency. n = 18. tula various in outline (depending par· circular in outline, 80-140 em. in diam., tially on extent to which the blade is with 35-38 linear-triangular lax seg­ expanded), at first covered with a dense ments connate in a palman (15-) 19-36 indumentum of adpressed caducous em. long, central free lobes 31-66 em. gray scales, free adaxial extension 0.4· long, 2.5-4.8 em. wide at widest point 1.5 (·1.8) em. long; petiole ancipitous and tapering gradually to a very slight­ (48-) 50·59 em. long, ca. 1.3-2 em. ly bifid apex 0.6-2.2 em. deep; adaxial wide, very gradually increasing in width surface glossy dark green with ridges toward the union with sheath where ca. yellowish, principal nerves of partially 2.5 em. wide and flattened adaxially, expanded blade with caducous scales; abaxial surface densely covered with abaxial surface silvery, covered with a white scales which are soon lost along dense indumentum of persistent irreg­ the central convex portion; sheath tubu· ularly shaped fimbriate interlocked lar, very slightly liguliform for ca. 2·4 hyaline scales, the central portion of em., woven of fine fibers 0.5 mm. thick, which is conspicuous as a smooth punc­ at first covered with silky white hairs tate dot; fully developed but yet unex· and scales (expansion of the bud region panded blades with a rein (lora of causing the sheath fibers to become 136 PRINCIPES [Vol. ]0 apex of terminal rachilla, the terminal primary branch often not fully exposed; peduncle with 2-3 empty bracts, the lowest one ancipitous and inserted about 1-2 em. above the base of the peduncle within the leaf sheath, the others tubular with an oblique apical opening, each primary branch subtended by an elongate tubular bract with an oblique apical opening, the free por­ 5. Partially expanded leaf blade showing the tion frequently rigid and extended rein along the margin. above the inflorescence, all bracts cov­ ered with white floccose hairs, each re­ maining bract enclosing the flattened stalk of the primary branch which it subtends and the lower portion of the next tubular bract; the stalk of each branch with a strongly bifid, ancipitous, partially tubular bract inserted about 2·3 em. above its base; each primary branch once compounded with 14-40 rachillae, these 8·16 em. long, with 35­ SO or more pedicellate flowers. Flow­ ers fragrant, white at anthesis, soon becoming creamy white, never yellow; perianth searious, in a single series, with 5-6 unequal subulate lobes ca. 5 mm. long; stamens (7-) 9-14 (-IS), about equalling pistil, filaments about equalling or shorter than the anthers, dilated and connate in a ring at the base, slender above; anthers attached at base of connective, (1.5- ) 2.0-3.0 (-3.2) mm. long, sagittate at base, re­ tuse to bifid for (0.2) 0.3·0.6 mm. at the apex, the pollen sacs rounded to pointed apically and frequently unequal in length, connective very narrow; pis­ til pyriform, style normally straight, stigma infundibuliform. Mature fruit with persistent perianth, (6.9-) 7.5-9.5 6. Coccothrinax jamaicensis in the type local· mm. in diam., purple-black, juicy­ ity along the Queen's Highway. fleshed; seed cerebriform, 6.2-7.1 mm. separated forming a net). Inflorescence in diam. when fresh, 5.6·7.1 mm. in axillary, interfoliar, 70-90 em. long, diam. when dry; fruiting pedicels (1-) erect at anthesis to arcuate in fruit, com­ 2-6.2 mm. long; primary branches in posed of (4-) 5-7 primary branches, the fruit 15-33 em. long. Chromosome com­ lowermost branch ca. 11-23 em. long to plement: n = 18. * 1966] READ: COCCOTHRINAX 137

7. The silver thatch near May Pen on the south coast of Jamaica. 138 PRINCIPES [Vol. 10

8. Close-up of the crown or bud region of silver thatch showing the frui ting inflorescence and sheathing material. Notice the white scales on the youngest unexpanded leaf.

*Chromosome studies were supported, as part VERNACULAR NAME: silver thatch. of a larger palm study, by National Science Foundation Grant GB-2486. USES: leaves are used in the making of 1966] READ: COCCOTHRINAX 139

9. A single inflorescence from the type specimen at anthesis. hats, baskets, bags, and various articles Highway, ca. 2 mi. east of Rio Bueno, sold in the native crafts markets. Proctor 11070 & 11250 (IJ) ; Read 1563 SPECIMENS EXAMINED (in personal col­ (holotype, BH; isotypes, DCWI, S, lection when not otherwise designated : GH) ; Read 1606 (BH, DCWI, S, GH) ; JAMAICA. St. Ann Parish: Queen's Read 1607, 1608. St. Thomas Parish: 140 PRINCIPES [Vol. 10 cliffs. This area, exposed to northeast breezes, has a fair amount of rainfall but because of the nature of the porous rock and lack of soil or humus is rather xerophytic. The silver thatch growing here (Fig. 6) on apparently bare rock among Agave, cacti, and other xero. phytic plants, is tall and very slender with the trunk only 5·8 cm. in diameter and usually with a crown of small leaves with the brightest silvery under­ surfaces. 10. Leaves of C. jamaicensis woven into a Along the drier, often highly xerophy­ useful and attractive basket. tic south coast of Jamaica, the silver near Grant's Pen, Read 1679. St. An· thatch is found in scattered populations drew Parish: base of Long Mt. near in small ravines, on exposed mountain August Town, Read 1564. Clarendon cliffs and on gently sloping regions of Parish: Curatoe Hill, Read 1665; inter· thorn scrub associated with broken or section May Pen and Lionel Town Rds., eroded limestone. In the parish of St. Read 1677. Manchester Parish: 49 mi. Thomas near Grant's Pen, Coccothrinax marker near Gut River, Read 1687. St. jamaicensis is found in light woods Elizabeth Parish: Bideford District, along the protected slopes of a ravine S. W. of Malvern in the Santa Cruz in a very dry area. The plants growing Mts., Webster & Proctor 5312 (11); on limestone outcrops in light shade between Font Hill and Scott's Cove, with heavy soil close about the roots have Proctor & Mullings 21975 (11). West­ heavy trunks 10·15 cm. in diameter and moreland Parish: 22 mi. marker near produce large, nearly flat leaves form· Negril Beach, Proctor 11113 (11); Read ing a rather large crown. A short dis· 1571,1613,1674,1683. tance up the ravine, where it opens into a small dry valley of scanty soil and an DISTRIBUTION: endemic. abundance of eroded limestone, the vege· Coccothrinax jamaicensis is a highly tation is sparse and thorny and the variable species widely distributed along scattered silver thatch palms exposed to the coastal regions of the island from full sun and wind are tall and slender sea level to an altitude of nearly 1,500 (trunk diameter 5·8 cm.) with a small feet and on a variety of substrates. The crown of glistening leaves. The silvery silver thatch is never found far inland undersurface of the leaves of plants nor in areas of heavy rainfall and good growing in the protected areas is not as soil. Rather, it occurs on steep mountain pronounced as it is on plants growing slopes or cliffs of limestone, deeply in the exposed situations. eroded "dog.tooth" limestone and sand To the west, in the parish of St. An­ just behind the beach. drew, on the seaward.facing slopes of On the north coast of Jamaica, be· the Port Royal Mountains above the tween Discovery Bay (Dry Harbour) Cane River, the silver thatch is abund· and Rio Bueno in the parish of St. Ann, ant on dry limestone and marl cliffs the Queen's Highway runs through an exposed to strong southeast winds. The area of sharply eroded "dog.tooth" plants here are tall and slender, and limestone at the base of high limestone the leaves are so silvery as to be seen 1966] INDEX 141 from far away. A short di~tance west­ silvery foliage exposed to the strong sea ward, on the lower slopes of Dallas and breezes. Long Mountains along the Hope River, Westward on the lower slopes of the the silver thatch is found both on lime­ Carpenter Mountains in the parish of stone outcrops closely associated with Manchester, the silver thatch is found soil (as at Grant's Pen) and on steep on rocky cliffs and hills exposed to scree slopes of broken rock and soil. strong sea breezes, while near the west­ Rainfall is sparse and seasonal, and the ern border of the parish of St. Eliza­ runoff is rapid. Plants growing here beth, it is found in light woods and in the light woods protected from strong thorn scrub. In both of these areas, the drying winds are short (2- 3 m. tall), plants growing on exposed limestone are have heavier trunks (10-20, cm. in dia­ usually very tall with slender stems and meter) and the leaves and crown are have a smaller crown of leaves than larger with the silver less pronounced. those in protected situations or on rocky Further west, near Curatoe Hill south soils. of May Pen in the parish of Clarendon, A peculiar situation exists in the re­ the silver thatch is found as scattered gion of Negril Beach at the westernmost individuals on limestone outcrops and end of the island in the parish of West­ well drained soils. The region is exceed­ moreland (near mile marker 22 miles ingly dry during the winter months and from Lucea). In a small area of not although it may rain heavily during the more than 30 acres, a population of summer showers, the area has a very Coccothrinax is growing at sea level on arid character throughout most of the sandy substrate (similar to beach sand) year. The palms here are uniformly with a very high water table. In fact, heavy-stemmed (15-20 cm. in diameter), there is frequently standing water all around the area with only a foot or two usually tall (3-5 m.) and with large of difference in elevation between the dense crowns of large leaves which are standing water and the palms. In this brilliantly silvery beneath (Fig. 7). region of almost no strong sea breezes South of this region, on dry, lightly and no long dry periods it is most in­ wooded hills overlooking the sea, are teresting to find C. jamaicensis grow­ some exceptionally tall (to 7 or 8 m.) ing under conditions so contrary to its slender-stemmed individuals with bright usual habitat. INDEX Figures in Italic indicate pages with photographs or other illustrations

Aeoelorrhaphe Wrightii 130 Areca Acrocomia 40 Catechu 56 aculf'ata 59 concinna 4 nispa 4,60 Langloisiana 55 spinosa 60 macrocalyx 67, 76, 78, 82, 85 Actinokentia divaricata 119, 121 Arecastrum Romanzoffianum 60, 105, 130 Aetinorhytis 75 Arenga Aiphanf's caudata 59 aeanthophylla 4, 130 Engleri 4, 40, 130, 132 caryotaefolia 60 mierocarpa 64 erosa 60 pinnata 59, Ill, 130 AlIal(oplera arenaria 60 porphyrocarpa 59 Archontophoenix Alexandrae 56 sp. 131