Leucothrinax morrisii (H.Wendl.) C.Lewis & Zona, Palms (1999+) 52: 87 (2008)

Primary tabs

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Content

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Bahamas present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Cuba present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Florida present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Haiti present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Leeward Is. present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Puerto Rico present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Widespread and common in the Caribbean region, Leucothrinax morrisii occurs across a range of habitats in Florida, the Greater Antilles, and the western Lesser Antilles. (Lewis, C.E. & Zona, S. 2008: Leucothrinax morrisii, a New Name for a Familiar Caribbean Palm. – Palms; Journal of the International Palm Society 52: 84-88)A

Discussion

  • Leucothrinax morrisii is one of the most familiar cultivated palms of the Caribbean region and is also found in tropical gardens and conservatories worldwide. Its status as a distinct, monotypic genus had been, until now, unrecognized, as it shares many visible features with Thrinax excelsa, T. parviflora and T. radiata. Using molecular tools that were unavailable to earlier taxonomists, we were able to show a clear distinction between Leucothrinax and related palms. (Lewis, C.E. & Zona, S. 2008: Leucothrinax morrisii, a New Name for a Familiar Caribbean Palm. – Palms; Journal of the International Palm Society 52: 84-88)A

Conservation

  • It has a conservation status of “least concern” (Zona et al. 2007) under the World Conservation Union criteria (IUCN 2006). Nevertheless, it represents unexpected diversity in the Caribbean palm flora and suggests that further phylogenetic research may uncover additional surprises. This research must be done quickly, as many Caribbean palms are in rapid decline, along with the threatened areas they inhabit (Zona et al. 2007). (Lewis, C.E. & Zona, S. 2008: Leucothrinax morrisii, a New Name for a Familiar Caribbean Palm. – Palms; Journal of the International Palm Society 52: 84-88)A

Bibliography

    A. Lewis, C.E. & Zona, S. 2008: Leucothrinax morrisii, a New Name for a Familiar Caribbean Palm. – Palms; Journal of the International Palm Society 52: 84-88
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae