The Mediterranean dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis), is the only species of the genus Chamaerops, family Arecaceae. It is especially common in warm areas, near the coast it prefers sunny exposures and fears the intense cold. In its natural environment it grows mainly on rocky or sandy soils. It is an endemic flora and it is protected by the Regional Law of Campania 25/11/94. It is a rare plant in Salerno and in Campania and is present only in Capo d'Orso, town of Maiori, and in some areas of the Cilento coast.
The Greeks called it Phoenix chamaeriphes, which literally means "palm thrown to the ground." It is an evergreen tree that normally reaches heights of up to 2 meters. It is of variable diameter (10-15 cm), covered by a fibrous tissue of brown color.
The bark is dark brown or reddish. The leaves are wide and strong, like a fan, they are green on the upper side and almost white on the underside. The flowers are yellow, with short peduncles.
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Notes
Conti F., Manzi A:, Pedrotti F., 1997 - Liste Rosse Regionali delle Piante d’Italia. WWF Italia. S.B.I. Camerino. 139 pp.
“Monitoraggio del patrimonio di biodiversità. Analisi per la gestione delle risorse ambientali per la conservazione della biodiversità”, Agriconsulting spa per il Parco Regionale dei Monti Lattari