Coccothrinax Sarg.

Key to the species of Coccothrinax in Hispaniola

1. Leaf segments pendulous at the apices, giving a three-dimensional appearance to the leaf; leaf segment hairs with a conspicuous elliptic center; Haiti (Tortuga island) and Dominican Republic (Morro de Monte Cristi)............................................... C. argentata

- Leaf segments not pendulous at the apices; leaf segment hairs without conspicuous centers ..........................................................2.

2. Leaf sheath fibers closely woven, forming persistent, triangular ligules at the apices; throughout Hispaniola ............... C. argentea

- Leaf sheath fibers not forming persistent, triangular ligules at the apices ........................................................................................3.

3. Leaf sheath fibers thin (usually <0.5 mm diameter), closely woven, not forming persistent ligules and soon disintegrating at the apices .................................................................................................................................................................................................4.

- Leaf sheath fibers stout (usually> 1 mm diameter), woody, loosely woven, ± joined or briefly free at the apices, or the inner and outer layer combining at the apices to form erect, spine-like fibers, or stout (usually 0.3–0.5 mm diameter), loosely woven and forming a loose, hexagonal mesh, initially forming ligules at the apices .........................................................................................5.

4. Stems 4.4–15.0 cm diameter, not swollen; at 10–26 m elevation in southeastern Dominican Republic (La Altagracia, San Pedro de Macoris)....................................................................................................................................................................... C. barbadensis

- Stems 11.0–50.0 cm diameter, sometimes swollen; throughout Hispaniola ......................................................................... C. spissa

5. Fruits 8.3–16.4 mm long; at higher elevations ..................................................................................................................................6.

- Fruits 3.9–7.9 mm long; at lower elevations .....................................................................................................................................7.

6. Palmans 8.3(3.5–15.3) cm long, relatively short, with the adaxial veins prominent and terminating in a slight raised ridge and distinct pulvinus; Dominican Republic (Sierra Martín García and Sierra de Baoruco) and Haiti (Massif de la Hotte and probably Massif de la Selle) ............................................................................................................................................................. C. scoparia

- Palmans 20.1(12.0–26.50) cm long, relatively long, without prominent adaxial veins; Dominican Republic (Cordillera Central, Cordillera Septentrional, Sierra de Neiva) ........................................................................................................................ C. montana

7. Fruit surfaces densely muricate .........................................................................................................................................................8.

- Fruit surfaces smooth or sometimes with projecting fibers.............................................................................................................10.

8. Leaf sheath fibers combining at the apices to form erect, spine-like fibers; southeastern Haiti (Sud-Est) and southwestern Dominican Republic (Barahona, Pedernales) ....................................................................................................................................... C. ekmanii

- Leaf sheath fibers ± joined or briefly free at the apices ....................................................................................................................9.

9. Leaf blades orbicular; Dominican Republic (Azua)........................................................................................................ C. boschiana

- Leaf blades wedge-shaped; northeastern Dominican Republic (Samaná) .................................................................... C. samanensis

10. Inflorescences erect, at least initially, amongst or above the leaves; north-central Dominican Republic (Espaillat).... C. bonettiana

- Inflorescences curving, arching, or pendulous amongst the leaves.................................................................................................11.

11. Leaf blades orbicular .......................................................................................................................................................................12.

- Leaf blades wedge-shaped...............................................................................................................................................................14.

12. Leaf segments without indumentum abaxially; southern Haiti (Department Sud-Est)..................................................... C. concolor

- Leaf segments densely indumentose abaxially................................................................................................................................13.

13. Fruits 3.8–4.7 mm diameter; seed surfaces lobed, the lobes running from base of seeds approximately to equator; northeastern Dominican Republic (El Seibo, Hato Mayor) ....................................................................................................... C. montgomeryana

- Fruits 7.1–7.2 mm diameter; seed surfaces deeply lobed, the lobes running from base of seeds almost to apices; northwestern Haiti (Nord-Ouest)........................................................................................................................................................................ C. gracilis

14. Leaf segments densely indumentose abaxially; Haiti (Artibonite) .............................................................................. C. gonaivensis

- Leaf segments without indumentum abaxially................................................................................................................................15.

15. Leaf sheath fibers 0.3(0.2–0.4) mm diameter, forming a loose, hexagonal mesh, initially forming ligules at the apices; Dominican Republic (Independencia).................................................................................................................................................. C. jimenezii

- Leaf sheath fibers 1.3(1.1–1.5) mm diameter, ± joined or briefly free at the apices; Dominican Republic (Azua) ..... C. landestoyii