Brahea armata S.Watson
Blue hesper palm
Blue hesper palms really do have blue leaves, more so than any other palm. They grow in desert canyons in northwestern Mexico, Baja California, and the Sonoran desert.
Plants: Trees are less than 50′ (15 m) high and 16′ (4.9 m) in diameter. The trunk is slightly swollen at the base.
Leaves: The leaves form a roughly spherical top, with older leaves hanging below; if not removed, the leaves eventually form a “skirt” reaching the ground. Sometimes the blue gray leaves appear more whitish.
Flowers: Striking flower clusters up to 15′ (4.6 m) around are filled with cream-colored flowers.
Fruits: Ovoid, ⅝–⅞″ (1.8–2.4 cm) long, and brown.
Habitats: Desert canyons and cliffs; rocky limestone soils.
Photo courtesy of L. R. Landrum, Manager, ASU Vascular Plants Herbarium 
Online References:
5/25/2009 · Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Arizona 
| Parents | Unknown | Genus is not in the current taxonomy |
| Genus | Brahea | For Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer |
| Species | armata | Spiny or thorny, literally “armed” |
Brahea armata description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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