Phoenix pusilla
Species of palm
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Phoenix pusilla (pusilla, Latin: tiny or weak), the Ceylon date palm or flour palm,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the palm family, native to southern India and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). They are found in lowlands, ridges and on hills. No taller than 5 m (16 ft), this species is usually single-stemmed but clumps do occur naturally. At 25 cm (9.8 in) in diameter, the trunks are covered with distinct leaf-base scars, forming a 'wicker' pattern. Their distinguishable trunks have made them popular in cultivation. They are drought tolerant and slow-growing.
| Ceylon date palm | |
|---|---|
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| A fruiting specimen of P. pusilla at Guindy National Park in Chennai | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Phoenix |
| Species: | P. pusilla |
| Binomial name | |
| Phoenix pusilla | |
