Coccothrinax

Coccothrinax is a genus of palms in the Arecaceae family. There are more than 50 species described in the genus, plus many synonyms and sub-species. A new species (Coccothrinax torrida) has been described as recently as 2006. Many of the Coccothrinax have silver or thatch, or both, in their English common names. In Spanish – speaking countries, guano is a common name applied to Coccothrinax species. The species are native throughout the Caribbean, the Bahamas, extreme southern Florida and southeastern Mexico, but most of the species are known only from Cuba.

Description

Coccothrinax is a genus of small to medium-sized, fan palms with relatively slender stems and 8 to 22 palmate leaves. The stems are initially covered by fibrous leaf sheaths. These break down into a network of fibres or spines, eventually leaving a bare trunk covered with leaf scars. The underside of the leaflets are often silvery-grey; this is reflected by the fact that many common name "silver palm" which is given to many species of Coccothrinax. The base of the petiole is not split longitudinally. The absence of this trait is a distinguishing character which separates Coccothrinax from Thrinax.