In the low, hot deserts of California, running water is scarce. However,
occasional springs erupt from underground. In some places, this surface water flows through canyons,
like this one. This setting is home to a rare plant community, called a palm oasis. Here,
the California fan palm is the dominant plant, creating shade and habitat for bighorn sheep,
Gambel's quail, coyotes, and hooded orioles. Let's look at the distinctive features of the
California fan palm, Washingtonia filifera.
The leaf stalk, or petiole, is green and armed with
teeth along both sides. The leaf blades are stiff and palmately shaped, with v-shaped segments that
have thread-like fibers on their margins. The leaves stay on the tree even after they senesce,
forming a skirt around the trunk. A profusion of white flowers develop into more or less fleshy,
black fruits that hang in large clusters among the leaves near the top of the tree. Fire is
an important factor in this plant community. It rarely kills an adult plant because, unlike most
trees, palms have water and nutrient-conducting tissues scattered through their stems and can't be
girdled. But fire does kill other plants, removing competitors and organic matter that opens up space
for palm seeds to germinate.
Washingtonia filifera is the only palm tree native to California, and
seeing it in its native habitat is truly special. Escape the city to find a special botanical
treasure, the California fan palm, along with relief from the Hot Desert Sun in a cool shady
palm oasis. Want to know more about the plants you see in California? Follow the Jepson videos.
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