Angela Cano, a first year master’s student from The University of Geneva, working with the Conservatory and Botanical Garden of Geneva, is being hosted at Montgomery to collect DNA and voucher specimens for research on her thesis. She is working on a monographic revision for Trithrinax and its place in the phylogeny of the palm tribe Cryosophileae.
Recent work here in Miami by FIU and FTBG illuminated the phylogeny of West Indian palms, which included many Cryosophileae. Phylogeny and placement of Trithrinax is yet to be examined. Ms. Cano’s research will use modern techniques to clarify relationships between species in Trithrinax, a genus that has been unstudied for 80 years.
Trithrinax are well armored palms, with long sharp spines on their trunks and spiny leaf tips. They are used to thatch roofs and have a showy white fleshy fruit that is beautiful, though not good for consumption. It is a cold tolerant palm that is native to southern South America.
“Fred Stauffer recommended that I come to Montgomery Botanical Center because of its large collection of palms. The collection is great and the location is ideal, with only a short walk between Montgomery and Fairchild,” said Angela Cano.