Chamaedorea ernesti-augusti - Tuna Tail Palm

Fascinating shape, never seen a fish tail shape in a leaf before.

The true fishtail palm is the species of Caryota. Several Caryota species grow here in San Diego. They grow very tall or massive. Here's a photo of the King Kong Fishtail Palm, it's massive (it's even larger now because this photo was taken in 2008).

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/125107-caryota

It looks totally different when it's tall

Chamaedorea ernesti-augusti is not related to Caryota gigas. It's actually related to your Chamaedorea elegans palm...same genus different species.

ah, that explains it! thank you

Chamaedorea has the second largest amount of species in the world. The palm genus Calamus has the most species in the world.

Strange how they classify things, it frequently confuses me.

I've studied horticulture and botany. For me it's quite easy.

It's always Genus, species then variety

its when they look very different but have some other common feature which would classify them as the same that confuses me.

It's a very complicated thing. The taxa of plants are generally classified into families by flowers.

oh, ok, thanks ~ i think i had assumed leaf for some reason?

You're welcome.

Yes, all the plants in the world are put into their family by their flowers. It's actually pretty amazing!

and trees are the same?

Yes, all living plants/trees.