Palmera de Cabo Verde, Tamareira (Phoenix atlantidis)

A native of Cape Verde, although its taxonomy is much disputed, distinguished by being over 10 m tall and branching into 5-10 trunks at the base. Leaves are arranged in up to a hundred apical rosettes; leaves are 2-3 long, dark green and similar to those of the Canary palm (Phoenix canariensis). Inflorescences vary according to sex, the male being shorter than the female. Fruits are subglobose, up to 16 mm long and 12 mm in diameter, yellowish, becoming darker when ripe. It grows naturally on the islands of Sal, Boavista and Santiago, although it has also been reported in Maio. Distribution is not well known, largely due to confusion with another species of palm (Phoenix dactylifera) planted in Cape Verde, resulting in hybrid species; a similar situation occurs with the Canary palm. The Cape Verde palm appears to be under threat from hybridization with the date palm. However, due to a lack of accurate information, it has been classified as Data Deficient.