Miraguama Thatch Palm

Coccothrinax miraguama (Kunth) Becc.

co-co-THRY-nax mir-ah-GUAM-ah

Arecaceae

Explanation of name: For Coccothrinax, see Coccothrinax argentata. Miraguama apparently comes from the Cuban name Miraguano for this species. (Alternatively, RI2 says the epithet honors a province in Cuba.)

Natural range: Cuba (BA1, ELL)

Natural habitat: Although limited to Cuba, this species is widespread on the island, with multiple named variants favoring different habitats: savannas, open woods, coastal sites. Some of these are sold in Florida (see recognition below).

            The taxonomic levels accepted for the variants differ from source to source, ranging from cultivars to separate species. For convenience, they are listed under validly published subspecific names below.

Recognition: Single-trunked, palmate-leaved, small palm having the trunk covered with woven (appearing like weathered burlap), dark-colored fibers (vs. shaggy, usually near-white, and beardlike in C. crinita). The leaves are circular in outline, particularly stiff, deeply cut, and have the leaflets wide (2”) and widely spaced, failing to lie flat, overlapping each other irregularly, and hairy beneath. The fruits pass from red to deep purple-black. See C. argentata for a comparison of species in this genus. According to ELL, germination requires 3-5 months.

Coccothrinax miraguama subsp. arenicola (León) Borhidi & Muñiz lives naturally on sandhills in savannas, and has especially numerous leaf segments, particularly wiry fibers, and stamen filaments connate at the base only (JON).

Coccothirnax miraguama subsp. havanensis (León) Borhidi & Muñiz grows near Havana on calcareous coastal sands and rocky hills with serpentine soils. The leaf sheaths are woody; the 12 stamens have the filaments connate in the basal 1/3; the fruits are 8-12 mm in diameter (JON, ELL as a “variety”).

Coccothirnax miraguama subsp. macroglossa (León) Borhidi & Muñiz (Coccothrinax macroglossa (León) Muñiz & Borhidi) has particularly stiff and silvery (underneath) leaves (NUR).

Coccothrinax miraguama subsp. roseocarpa (León) Borhidi & Muñiz comes from open forests on siliceous hills in northern Cuba and has rose-purple (vs. purple-black) fruits. Its stamens are 8-10 with the filaments fused at the base only (JON, ELL).

Landscape uses: A stiff, open specimen tree best used where the fiber mat on the young trunk and the perky, formal leaves are well displayed. According to MEE, faster-growing than most other members of the genus.