Genus of palms
Trithrinax is a genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Coryphoideae of the family Arecaceae. The name is derived from ancient Greek, where "tri" means three, and "thrinax" trident. It was named in 1837 by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius, a German botanist and explorer.
"Trithrinax" species are spiny fan palms native to South America. They are resistant to cold, heat, wind, drought, poor soils and other adverse environmental conditions. Seeds germinate fast, but their overall growth rate is distinctly slow.
Description.
Common features of "Trithrinax" species include:
Taxonomy.
In the first edition of "Genera Palmarum" (1987), Natalie Uhl and John Dransfield placed the genus "Trithrinax" in subfamily Coryphoideae, tribe Corypheae and subtribe Thrinacinae. Subsequent phylogenetic analyses showed that the Old World and New World members of Thrinacinae are not closely related. As a consequence, "Trithrinax" and related genera have been placed in their own tribe, Cryosophileae.
Habitat.
"Trithrinax" species are spread along vast subtropical zones of South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina. They prefer dry, open or forest clearing, environments, with moderate to cold winters.
Usage.
Leaf fibers are used as raw material for textiles, rustic clothing, and handicrafts. Oil can also be extracted from seeds. Fruits are sometimes used locally, fermented, to produce alcoholic beverages.
References.
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