Scientific name: Coccothrinax argentea

IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 54.13″ N, 64° 49′ 47.13″ W

Observations:

Phenological Markers – Coccothrinax argentea (Hispaniolan Silver Palm)

Family: Arecaceae (Palm family)
Common Names: Hispaniolan Silver Palm, Silver Thatch Palm, Palma plateada
Habitat: Endemic to Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti); widely cultivated in the Caribbean, including the Virgin Islands, for ornamental and traditional uses. Prefers dry, rocky soils, often found in scrublands, savannas, and coastal dry forests.

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Phenological Markers:

• Flowering Period:
  Generally flowers in late spring through summer (May to August), but can flower intermittently year-round in humid tropical climates. Flowers are small, creamy-white, and occur in long, branched inflorescences that extend beyond the leaves.
• Fruiting Period:
  Fruits mature approximately 4–5 months after flowering, typically from September to December. The fruit is a small, shiny black drupe about 1 cm in diameter.
• Leaf Fall:
  Evergreen. Older fronds dry and hang downward or fall off naturally. Manual pruning is often used in cultivated specimens for tidiness.
• Budding Period:
  New fronds emerge continuously throughout the year, with a peak in early rainy season (April to June), often overlapping with flowering.

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Key Features:

• Leaves: Fan-shaped (palmate), dark green above with a striking silvery-white underside that gives the palm its name. The leaf surface is covered in fine, reflective scales.
• Trunk: Slender, solitary, and gray with visible ring scars; typically grows 3–10 meters tall.
• Flowers: Tiny, fragrant, and pale yellow-white, produced in clusters on long, graceful inflorescences.
• Fruits: Small black drupes that are a food source for birds and other wildlife.

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Additional Notes:

Often confused with Coccothrinax argentata, but C. argentea generally has a more robust trunk and more vividly silver leaf undersides.

This species is highly valued in traditional Dominican culture for thatching and making hats, baskets, and fans.

Drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant, and ideal for xeriscaping and coastal restoration.