Acanthophoenix crinita - Black Palm

How rare? extinct rare? and is there a reason why ? just out of interest...

Mushybanna:

It's almost extinct in habitat. Because of deforestation many of the flora on Reunion Island are almost extinct in habitat. Luckily many of the species have been brought into cultivation for preservation. However, Black Palm is not easy to germinate from what I've read...and it's very rare in cultivation here. I only know of one palm nursery in San Diego County which sells this palm...I'm sure the owner would want an arm and leg and maybe another arm for one! LOL!!! : >)

Good to know the zoo is looking after rare trees as well as rare creatures !

Terratoonie:

Yes, the San Diego Zoo is all about the preservation of fauna and flora.

I wonder why endangered plants and palms aren't tissue cultured by the millions like orchids or even Aloe's?

Not sure how easily tissue culture is done on some trees.

When Foxtails went from rare to everywhere so fast- was that only from seed?
Something to post on palm gardening boards.

Yes, there was a huge influx of seed from Australia. There's actually a lot in the older Palm Journals that people were cutting down the trees to get some of the seed (and this was in the protected park in Australia). Now, there's many large seed-bearing trees throughout the tropics.