[72] Phoenix dactylifera L.
THE COCONUT AND ITS RELATIVES.
The true coconut palm is confined to a narrow belt along the coast of southern Florida, but other species of cocos are planted in the coast districts of California. The species that is most prominent in park and street plantings around San Diego, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara is usually known as Cocos plumosa or Cocos romanzoffiana, and is a rather tall, slender palm with a long-jointed trunk about 1 foot in diameter and long, spreading, feathery, deep-green leaves. Another series is represented by Cocos yatay and several similar species, often called Cocos australis in nursery catalogues. They have short, thick trunks, very glaucous grayish or bluish foliage, and fleshy edible fruits, highly flavored, somewhat like pineapples. These gray-leaved species are very hardy. Another coconut relative is the Chilean molasses palm,[73] which has a massive trunk 3 or 4 feet in diameter, specimens of which are growing at a few places in California.
[73] Jubaea chilensis Baill.
OTHER PINNATE PALMS.
The amethyst palm, a native of Australia, is commonly planted in California. It usually appears in lists and nursery catalogues as Seaforthia elegans or Archontophoenix alexandrae, but it is now recognized as distinct from both of these species and has received a new name, Loroma amethystina. It is the only pinnate-leaved palm, except certain species of Phoenix and Cocos, that grows freely in the open air in the coast districts of California, from Santa Barbara to San Diego. In habit and general appearance Loroma is more like the royal palm, though with a smaller trunk and fewer leaves. The pinkish purple drooping inflorescence is very attractive and develops into a large cluster of scarlet berries.
The royal palms, species of Roystonea, are perhaps the most striking ornamental members of the whole group. They can be grown in southern Florida and even exist in the wild state in some of the hammocks below Miami.
PEPPER TREE.
The California pepper tree[74] is much used in regions 2 and 3 and in the western part of region 5. It is a moderate-sized broad-headed tree with fine foliage, which gives it a light, airy appearance. During the fall and winter it is covered with scarlet berries, which in contrast with the persistent foliage produce a pleasing effect.