Photos of Attelea cohune in Belize, with Prince Harry

[TerdalFarm]

Prince Harry was in Belize today. He toured the Maya ruin of Xunatunich, which I have been to literally more times than I can count since 1998. By climbing up to the top of the highest structure, El Castillo (built around 750 AD, when Henry's ancestors lived in log cabins), you can look down on the rainforest canopy and see that Attela cohune is one of those rare canopy palms.

Hopefully he noticed that.

Anyway, here are the pics from the Vancouver Sun newspaper:

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainme ... l?tab=PHOT

[lucky1]

Rare palm indeed.
Not many showing from the highest point.

I do hope those anonymous seeds John brought back are Attalea cohune.
Still not popping, but not rotting either.

Seems the prince had a nice welcome.

Barb

[TerdalFarm]

In the view from the top looking down on the plaza, I could see one individual Attelea cohune palm tree that I have photographed before from the ground. I can pick out a few more from the canopy photos taken from the top of the pyramid looking down but only because I am used to looking for them from right there.
The ancient Maya used the strong trunks of A. cohune as rollers for the massive stones they built with as their wood is extraordinarily strong, and crushed the nuts to boil for cooking oil. Attelea cohune palm trees are statistically denser near maya ruins than away, which may be a legacy of them being deliberately cultivated centuries ago around Maya cities.

The symbolism of relevance to us palmophiles is that the Prince was officially in Belize to rename a small street in the Capital, Belmopan, from Cohune Walk to Queen Elizabeth II Boulevard. I think there is some symbolism there related to colonialism but suspect that escaped the notice of everyone but me.

http://www.sanpedrosun.com/community-an ... he-locals/

[lucky1]

I'd vote to leave it as Cohune Walk, but that's just me.
Just another Commonwealther...not so wealthy

Barb