Large Waller Palms South of MLK
by Bob Harms (
)
Three large Sabal mexicana palms with prominent trunks are found just south of campus, between MLK and the tennis courts. These are clearly older than those on campus, and their position on the bank would indicate dispersal by mammals (e.g., raccoons) or birds rather than from upstream by flooding.
One likely source of these palms is the tall palm adjacent to the Arno Nowotny building at the corner of I35 and MLK, which has also spawned numerous volunteers in the adjacent park. This palm is only 4/10 of a mile from Waller Creek, connected by a narrow greenbelt. The widening of Red River Street at that point probably occurred later than the germination of these palms.
Click on the three thumbnail images for larger images.
