The Palm family has the taxonomic name Arecaceae but was previously given the more intuitive Palmae unfortunately through the vagaries of botanical nomenclature this Latin name is considered old fashioned now.
The most common palm on campus is the native species and state tree Sabal palmetto which outnumbers all the other palms on campus 2 to 1. The non-native species we have are the Pindo Palm (Butia capitata), the Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera), the Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis), and the Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta).
Mexican Fan Palms are typical of Venice Beach in LA - just think Hollywood. Date palms are typical of oases in the middle east, and Canary Island Date Palms are just a fairly common ornamental. Scroll to the bottom to see the map of these palms on campus.
Pindo Palm (Butia capitata)
Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta)
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| Some famous Mexican Fan Palms in LA's Venice Beach. |
Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis)
Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)
Non-native Palms on the Florida State University Campus
It is incorrect for you to state that the family name Palmae is not considered valid (old fashioned, perhaps, but not invalid). According to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature: 18.5. The following names, of long usage, are treated as validly published: Compositae (Asteraceae; type, Aster L.); Cruciferae (Brassicaceae; type, Brassica L.); Gramineae (Poaceae; type, Poa L.); Guttiferae (Clusiaceae; type, Clusia L.); Labiatae (Lamiaceae; type, Lamium L.); Leguminosae (Fabaceae; type, Faba Mill. [= Vicia L.]); Palmae (Arecaceae; type, Areca L.); Papilionaceae (Fabaceae; type, Faba Mill.); Umbelliferae (Apiaceae; type, Apium L.). When the Papilionaceae are regarded as a family distinct from the remainder of the Leguminosae, the name Papilionaceae is conserved against Leguminosae.
ReplyDelete18.6. The use, as alternatives, of the family names indicated in parentheses in Art. 18.5 is authorized.
Marc S. Frank, Botanist
Divsion of Plant Industry
Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services