Fan Palms… Valuable Survival Source

When we think  Southern California, we picture Hollywood and the Fan Palm lined streets of Beverly Hills. The Falm palm is depicted in  souveniers, movies, post cards, etc. One might say the fan palm is synonymous with Southern California. The irony, however, is that while we do have a native California Fan Palm, the palm most often depicted in movies and post cards is not our California Native. It is  the Mexican Fan Palm, lol. Yes I know the irony, considering we do have a native.

Though they are similar, there are differences that set them apart:

The Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm) tends to grow with a more slender trunk that is swollen near the base like a barrel. It grows taller than the California native, and the petiole (the palm frond stem) edges are outlined with a streak of brown along their length. The color of the fronds are also a truer green than those of the California Native.

The Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) does not grow as tall as the robusta, has a straighter thicker trunk, without the swelling at the base, and the petiole margins are green—not outlined with the brownish edges. Also, the color of their fronds tend to be more a sea green (bluish green)

When it comes to survival, there is really no marked difference for their uses. So valuable they are, that some tribes relied heavily on them for what they offer.

Cahuilla Indians eagerly awaited the arrival of the delicious fruit. The fruit cluster could weigh anywhere from 5 – 20 pounds each and was an important food and fiber source.

• The fruit was eaten either raw, or dried for consumption later in the year.
• Fruits would also be ground into a flour and used to make a mush.
• Fruits were also used to make jellies.
• Fronds were used for thatching material in shelter making.
• Stems of the fruit rib were used to make bows
• Dried seeds were used to make gourd rattles
• Frond stems were used to make cooking utensils

Cocopa made a beverage out of the fruits and the. Pima ate the fruits raw.

of Particular importance, the rib of the fruit clusters was used as a favorite hearth for firemaking. Ive used it and can be as good as sotol. The loose fiberous sheathes that interweave around the trunk are amazing as tinder—A simple spark setting them off. For this reason, many cities trim and clean up the trunk, to prevent a fire hazard.

This tree is absolutely an important survival resource, if one can only figure out a way to get the fruit that grow high among the fronds. Hmmm, I guess I’ll buy a bucket truck or spikes and just keep them as part of my kit… I’m kidding, of course… or am I?