The dwarf fan palm, ġummara, a native of the western Mediterranean region, is the only native palm tree found on our islands. This species, which in the past was commonly found in our countryside, has regrettably today become completely eradicated from the wild, probably due to its over-collection, in the past, by horticulturists. Nevertheless, the dwarf fan palm was reintroduced into the wild from stock found growing at San Anton Gardens which is thought to be native.
This palm tree is scientifically known as Chamaerops humilis. The generic name Chamaerops is derived from the Greek words chamai, meaning “on the ground or low” and rhops meaning “a bush, or clump forming”. Indeed, the dwarf fan palm is a shrub-like palm tree, which has a single stem, or possibly several stems growing from a single base. Its stems, which grow very tightly together, are covered with scars or the tough bases of leaf stalks.
The fan-like leaves are green to greenish-grey and are made up of 10 to 15 linear, lance-like leaflets. These are found on long leaf-stems with a spiny, toothed margin, which help to protect the tree from grazing animals.
The flowers are yellowish and found as a branched spike-like inflorescence. When fertilised, they form a fleshy fruit which is rounded to oblong and up to 15cm in diameter. When it ripens it becomes yellowish or brown. The dwarf fan palm has many uses such as in basketry, for the production of ropes, cords, brooms, brushes and mats.
The dwarf fan palm is considered to be a strictly protected tree under national legislation and one should not prune, fell or uproot this tree without previously obtaining the necessary permits from the competent authorities.
More information may be obtained by e-mail: nature.requests@mepa.org.mt.
The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. Malta, together with many other countries around the globe, is carrying out a number of initiatives to celebrate life on earth and the value of biodiversity for our lives. We are all invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: Biodiversity.