FAN PALM

CALIFORNIAN FAN PALM

LATIN NAME: WASHINGTONIA FILIFERA

HOMELAND: MAXICO

Washingtonia Filifera Palm, which can reach upto 20 meters height and 6 meters diameter, can be confused with the Acai Palm at first glance because of its similar fruits. It can be distinguished with its fan shaped leafs and its fruits which are smaller in size and darker in color than the acai.

The claim that the palmtree was brought to South America by the Spanish missionaries after the discovery of the American continent, and from there to North America, has been refuted academically with the discovery of endemic palm species in Central America and Amazon forests in the modern age.

So where does the name Californian Palm come from?

The palm trend in California starts with the planting of 25000 Washingtonia Filifera Palms in Los Angeles to beautify the city for the 1932 Olympic Games. These trees became after that the symbol of Los Angeles and its name spread as Californian Palm.

The ivilyuqalem Indians of California, whic hare called Cahuilla from the mountain Cahuilla in the region, they eat the flowers, buds and fruits and use the flour obtained from fruit seeds in pastries such as cakes.

Cahuilla Indians accept Washingtonia Filifera Palm as the first palmtree in the World, according to their beliefs, and tell a story about it.

According to the story, a water fountain, which is important for the tribe Cahuilla and their lives in the region of the city, which is called the Indian Wells today, begins to dry up. The old chief of the tribe worries about that the spring, which is the source of water, is starting to dry up. The old chief of the tribe goes to the fountain that is stil flowing and calls out to his gods as follows:

"I will be a palmtree, my name will always be a palm"

The people who gathered around him watched the body turned into a tree and the leaves over his head. So they believe that the first palmtree in the World emerged in this way.